Cyber surveillance in your cell phone

Thanks to more information from former NSA analyst Edward Snowden, it was revealed Tuesday that government agencies in the U.S. and Britain can access someone’s personal information through seemingly harmless mobile apps like ‘Angry Birds’. But who is demanding answers, and how you can help protect your information.

It’s a harmless game, a download that seems only cost time. But according to Ontario’s Privacy Commissioner Ann Kavoukian, that’s not the case: “Who would think, you’re doing Angry Birds, you’re playing a game and that information is being tracked and collected by the NSA, CSEC and others.”

Angry Birds is considered to be a ‘leaky application’ in which surveillance could reveal information such as your age, location and possibly even your sexual orientation.

Kavoukian says Canada has helped the U.S. in the past to break Canadian encryptions. And though we’ve not heard of any Canadian involvement with Angry Birds, it still raises a lot of questions: “How deep do they go? How long do they keep in information? Why are they doing this?”

Canada’s Privacy Commissioner, Chantal Bernier, presented a report in Ottawa Tuesday with similar demands; more transparency and greater regulation.

Angry Birds may just go from being a game to a cautionary tale. Tech Experts say sharing information comes with all internet use, and right now it’s user beware.

Communications expert Alex Sevigny says that we are just learning how socialize online, and it’s best to be safe.

“The internet is still the wild west. Regulation is far behind the reality. I think the cautious position to take, is the slightly paranoid one, that yes I’m being listened to.”

The exchange of information is most often voluntary when you agree to terms and conditions, though many may not know it.

Alex says: “In fact you’re signing a legal document, and you are potentially giving away your rights as a consumer and as an individual.”

Sevigney says that if you’re really serious about protecting yourself, read the user agreement and if you’re uncomfortable, don’t play.