Canada watchdog says SWIFT upheld privacy law

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Canada watchdog says SWIFT upheld privacy law

36 minutes ago

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian privacy laws were upheld during a post
September 11 terrorism probe by Washington even though personal
banking details were likely handed over to the U.S. Treasury,
Canada's privacy watchdog said on Monday.

Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddard said SWIFT, a European-based
financial cooperative that provides messaging services and software to
financial institutions, did not wrongfully disclose personal details to
U.S. authorities, who were searching for terrorism-related transactions
following the New York attacks.

However, she urged U.S. authorities to use Canada's existing anti-
terrorism financing laws in the future instead of relying on court orders
to get information.

Stoddard made the remarks in the findings of her seven-month
investigation, launched after allegations that SWIFT breached privacy
laws when it responded to subpoenas from the U.S. Department of
Treasury for data held in its U.S. offices.

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Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070402/wl_nm/privacy_dc