Anonymous leaks secret Canadian documents

Anonymous leaks were released Tuesday in the first of what is promised to be "stunning secrets" about Canada's spy agency in revenge for the shooting dead of one of its members by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The hacking organization sent what it said is a sensitive government document to The National Post newspaper. The newspaper published excerpts Tuesday, detailing 25 secret foreign stations operated by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

The document is purportedly from the Treasury Board of Canada and says many of the stations "are located in developing countries and/or unstable environments," and are staffed by approximately 70 CSIS employees who handle about 22,500 messages per year, as well as a "high volume of extremely sensitive traffic from the Washington station."

Cybercrime investigators with the Communications Security Establishment are investigating how "Anonymous" secured the document and leaked it to media, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported Tuesday. Etienne Rainville, a spokesman for the public safety ministry, had little to say about the leak.

"We do not comment on leaked documents and we continue to monitor this situation closely," she said in an email to the CBC. In a video, Anonymous said the secrets will be made public through the media to avenge the death of James McIntyre, 48, who was shot and killed by RCMP officers. He was confronted and when he refused to throw away a knife he was shot and later died on July 16. The shooting occurred in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and Anonymous said McIntyre was its fourth member to be killed by security forces around the world in the past four years. Anonymous demanded the arrest of the RCMP officers involved in the shooting.

"Unless and until that happens, we will be releasing stunning secrets at irregular intervals," Anonymous says in the video. Anonymous also criticizes the new Canadian anti-terror Bill C-51, the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and police and corporations, saying they have branded "anyone opposing their fossil-fuel agenda to be a terrorist."

The video also says the Canadian government has poor Internet security, leaving itself open to hacking. The video ends with a sarcastic message, in particular aimed at the Canadian government. "Enjoy the summer, everyone. Fall will be wild."

In June, the hacking activists attacked several government websites, apparently in retaliation for the country's new controversial anti-terrorism Bill C-51. In a YouTube video, the hacking activists organization Anonymous claimed responsibility for the attack. "Greetings, citizens of Canada, we are Anonymous," the video says by way of a monotone, robotic voice. "Today, this 17th of June, 2015, we launched an attack against the Canadian Senate and government of Canada websites in protest against the recent passing of Bill C-51, a bill which is a clear violation of the universal declaration of human rights." Today, Anons around the world took a stand for your rights," the video continued. "We now ask that you follow suit. Stand up for your rights, take to the streets in protest this 20th of June 2015. Disregard these laws which are unjust, even illegal."

The bill has spawned controversy with critics saying it gives too much unchecked power to authorities in the fight against terrorism and could infringe on the civil liberties of citizens. Demonstrations against the bill were held in larger cities earlier this year.

Treasury Board President Tony Clement took to Twitter to confirm the cyberattack. The bill, introduced in January, allots more power to Canada's spy agencies. Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney has said the powers are necessary to fight the threat of terrorism, but others disagree. The Canadian Bar Association criticized the bill, saying it has "ill-considered" measures that could deprive Canadians of liberties while doing nothing to enhance their safety.