Police in the Canadian province of Quebec are warning citizens not to post surveillance footage of their packages being stolen because it could infringe on the alleged thief’s “private life”.
“Montreal West is known for its large porches, but around the holidays, those porches are a big target for thieves or ‘porch pirates,'” CTV News Montreal video reporter Olivia O’Malley reported Saturday.
“It’s something we deal with every day,” said Montreal West councilor responsible for public safety Lauren Small-Pennefather.
“You have people following the vehicle, and when they see a dropped package, they then go and pick up the package if no one comes to the door to pick up the package,” Small-Pennefather told CTV.
However, the province’s local police force, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) warned local citizens not to share footage of the alleged porch burglar.
“You can’t post the image yourself because you have to remember, in Canada, we have the presumption of innocence and posting the picture can be a violation of privacy,” SQ communications officer Lt. Benoit Richard warned.
Canadian Police Officer Lt. Benoit Richard warned that posting videos of alleged package thieves could be a violation of their privacy. Fox News Individuals who distribute someone’s photo without permission could face a variety of civil or criminal proceedings depending on the circumstances, Canadian Police said.
“If you get some evidence that someone might have stolen something, call the police, give the evidence to the police,” he said.
“We will do an investigation, bring the person to justice and file some charges.”
People who post security footage of their packages being stolen could face possible defamation charges, according to CTV.
The Sûreté du Québec sent Fox News Digital an email that refers to articles 35 and 36 of the Civil Code of Québec, which state “everyone has the right to respect for his reputation and privacy,” and that “a person’s privacy may not be invaded without that person’s consent or without invasion permitted by law.”
People who post security footage of their packages being stolen could face possible defamation charges in Canada. YonkersPD
They also said individuals who distribute someone’s photo without permission could face various civil or criminal proceedings depending on the circumstances.
The comments from the law enforcement official sparked backlash and disbelief that Canadians could face legal trouble for posting home security footage of their packages being stolen.
“It’s 2024, so of course the police care more about criminals than victims of crime,” wrote Canadian journalist Ezra Levant.
“Quebec police say this because it embarrasses them how many thefts happen without consequence,” wrote conservative commentator Chris Tomlinson.
“Report it to them, and they’ll file it away and pretend it never happened.”
“The world has gone mad,” author and YouTube host The Factual Feminist, Christina Hoff Sommers wrote.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
