ITIF - The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
03/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/12/2026 16:16
Canada’s Encryption Proposal Would Undermine Digital Security
OTTAWA-In response to the Government of Canada's proposal to require service providers to provide law enforcement access to encrypted communications, ITIF's Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness issued the following statement from the Centre's head of policy, Lawrence Zhang:
This proposal would irreversibly undermine encryption for Canadian users, putting their financial transactions, communications, and other sensitive data at risk.Authorities with lawful warrants should be able to compel access to data that companies already possess. But requiring service providers to build technical capabilities that could undermine encryption moves beyond lawful access and toward redesigning the security architecture that protects Canadians online.Weakening encryption would not make Canada safer. It would make Canadian businesses, consumers, and public institutions more vulnerable to cybercrime, espionage, and data breaches. Any mechanism that allows exceptional access also creates vulnerabilities for everyday users that malicious actors can exploit. Meanwhile, criminals and hostile actors would move to other services for encrypted communication. The practical effect would be to create a digital ecosystem that is less secure for law-abiding users while doing little to stop those intent on evading the law.As the Government of Canada considers reforms to improve law enforcement, it should avoid measures that weaken the encryption protecting Canadians. Public safety and cybersecurity are not competing goals-strong encryption is essential to both.
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