Affordable Ottawa Wiretap Defence Lawyers

Wiretaps are an investigative technique used by law enforcement authorities to obtain evidence.

They involve conducting surveillance and intercepting data electronically over communication systems. Traditionally, wiretapping was executed over phone lines but may now also include other forms of communication like cell phones and the Internet (email, chat programs, etc.)

The use of wiretaps by law enforcement officers is strictly controlled and is detailed in Part VI of the Criminal Code, which addresses the invasion of privacy. 

These regulations serve to protect the privacy of individuals and prevent surreptitious monitoring by the police. 

The regulations mean that, in order to intercept communications, law enforcement requires a judge to authorize a wiretap warrant. These are usually more difficult to obtain than standard search warrants because private communication rights are highly protected.

Unless the requirements are followed to the letter, evidence can be called into question and declared illegally obtained.

Types of wiretaps 

There are three basic types of wiretaps:

1. General: performed when the police have “reasonable and probable” grounds to believe that a wiretap will provide valuable evidence in their investigation of a crime;
2. Consent: where one of the parties involved in the communications consents to a wiretap being carried out;
3. Emergency: when a wiretap is considered necessary in order to prevent imminent serious harm to a person or to property (and usual measures to obtain authorization would take too long).

What forms of communication do wiretap limits apply to?

When a warrant is legally obtained, police can record and listen to all phone calls made and received on a particular phone line. They may record all calls and ‘live’ monitor certain phone lines.

The laws were largely enacted in the 1970s when the standard telephone line was the main form of communication.

Nowadays, more private communications pass over the Internet and, unfortunately, the law has been slow to keep up with the advance of technology.

If the wiretap warrant allows it, law enforcement officers can view all incoming and outgoing text messages and emails, as well as monitor a cell phone’s GPS location.

However, there are cases where Internet and cellphone communications (emails, instant messaging, social media, etc.) have been monitored surreptitiously without a warrant.

Consult with our legal team if you are facing a criminal charge based on evidence seized from Internet-based communications. 

We are familiar with wiretap regulations and communication systems and have successfully challenged evidence gathered in this way on many occasions.

Why challenge wiretap-based evidence?

Depending on the nature of the alleged crime, the only tangible evidence may have come from wiretap information. 

This is especially the case with criminal conspiracies where there are no witnesses or informants.

Often, mistakes are made by the police in their investigation – either in the process of obtaining a warrant, extending it, or in the actual use of the wiretap. 

Because of the difficulties in obtaining a wiretap warrant, law enforcement officers sometimes try to circumnavigate the process and this produces evidence that an experienced lawyer may be able to call into question.

Careful scrutiny by your lawyer can result in evidence being thrown out of court on account of it being illegally obtained, often securing an acquittal.

Even if the evidence is not thrown out, the conclusions drawn from it can be vigorously contested by your lawyer to achieve a better outcome for you.