Hacker group threatened Vic Toews, Speaker rules
OTTAWA— House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer has ruled Public Safety Minister Vic Toews’ parliamentary privileges were breached by videos posted online by the group Anonymous, clearing the way for the hackers to be hauled before MPS.
“These videos contained various allegations about the minister’s private life, and made specific and disturbing threats,” Scheer said.
Videos posted on Youtube show a headless man in a black suit under a red maple leaf and laurels as a computer-generated voice demands Toews’ resignation and calls for a controversial online-surveillance bill to be scrapped.
“I have carefully reviewed the online videos in which the language used does indeed constitute a direct threat to the minister in particular, as well as all other members,” Scheer said. “These threats demonstrate a flagrant disregard of our privileges of this House. The Commons can now debate whether to order the hackers to appear before a committee.
It’s unclear how Parliament would find the people behind the video. As its name suggests, the group does not publicize its membership.
That’s not to say they can’t be found. Twenty-five suspected members of the group were recently arrested in sweeps across Europe and South America as part of an Interpol investigation into cyberattacks in Colombia and Chile.