Canada court deals blow to spy agency, says it kept data illegally

A vehicle passes a sign outside the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) headquarters in Ottawa in this November 5, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Chris Wattie

OTTAWA: A court dealt Canada's spy agency a blow on Nov 3, declaring it had illegally kept data collected during investigations over the past decade and threatening sanctions if the issue occurred again. 

Although judges have previously criticised the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, for a lack of openness about its operations, the ruling was particularly uncompromising.