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Bill to help authorities probe online activities raises widespread privacy fears
The bill would require providers to keep metadata for up to one year and give police a narrower court order for subscriber information.
- In Ottawa, the Liberal government introduced 'An Act respecting lawful access' to equip police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service with tools to investigate modern crime, facing intense opposition from digital companies and civil liberties groups.
- The legislation mandates electronic service providers develop technical capabilities for investigations, while Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree could issue secret ministerial orders requiring firms to build specific monitoring features, even for non-core providers.
- Meta and Apple warn the bill could force companies to weaken encryption or install government spyware, while University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist argues the 'reasonable grounds to suspect' threshold invites Charter litigation by lowering privacy protections.
- Lawyer David Fraser criticized the bill as 'disproportionate,' warning it could turn Amazon Alexa and TVs into listening tools, while experts challenged proposals allowing authorities to retain metadata for up to one year.
- Simon Lafortune, a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, rejected claims of mass surveillance, stating 'any lawful access to information would continue to require appropriate legal authorization, such as a warrant issued by an independent court.
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40 Articles
The Toronto Star+38 Reposted by 38 other sources
Bill to help authorities probe online activities raises widespread privacy fears
OTTAWA - A Liberal government bill that would make it easier for police and spies to navigate the online world is running into fierce opposition from major digital companies, civil
·Toronto, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources40
Leaning Left26Leaning Right2Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution76% Left
Bias Distribution
- 76% of the sources lean Left
76% Left
L 76%
C 18%
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