Statement on the Lawful Access Act (Bill C-22)

STATEMENT RE: THE LAWFUL ACCESS ACT

The Lawful Access Act is a double-edged sword for the privacy and security of Canadians.

The Canadian Internet Society commends the Government of Canada for listening to the concerns raised by stakeholders and implementing them in Bill C-22, namely the removal of warrantless access to subscriber information previously proposed in Bill C-2.

However, Part II of the legislation raises significant privacy concerns due to its potential to usurp a free and open Canadian internet for the purposes of surveillance. Electronic service providers should not be forced by the government to build capabilities that compromise the privacy of Canadians.

We look forward to the legislative process, in which we encourage the government to ensure there is room for rigorous scrutiny, debate, and amendments to better protect Canadians’ privacy.