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Legislation that would give police and spies easier access to information about Internet users threatens to turn Canada into a surveillance society, the Official Opposition says.

“We are against this bill and we will fight this bill all the way,” NDP MP Charlie Angus told reporters in Ottawa. “Canadians are not criminals.”

The bill tabled Tuesday in the House of Commons would allow authorities access to Internet subscriber information – including name, address, telephone number and email address – without first getting a court's go-ahead.

The proposed measures pit the desire of intelligence and law-enforcement officials to have ready access to information about people online against the individual's right to privacy.

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