Canadian aviation authorities have implemented a no-fly list, to protect passengers against the threat of airborne terrorism.
The names of passengers who appear to be 12 or older must be checked against the list, produced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian counter-intelligence agency.
The list guards against customers "who may pose an immediate threat to aviation security", as well as those who have been "involved in a terrorist group," or convicted of "one or more serious and life-threatening crimes against aviation security."
Allen Kadegan, chief of aviation security policy for Transport Canada, justified the introduction of the no-fly list, saying:
"Canadians need protection against terrorism. That's the basic point ... we're looking at the terrorist challenge and we're looking at ways of addressing it."
However, critics have said that the list is open to misuse and could infringe on personal freedoms.
Lindsay Scotton, from the office of Canada's privacy commissioner, told CBC: "It can be life-threatening, it can have very serious and profound ramifications if somebody is on a list that is used for purposes that interfere with their civil liberties."
