Recommendations to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on Bill C-22

Recommendations to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on Bill C-22

TECHNATION has submitted recommendations to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) regarding Bill C-22, An Act Respecting Lawful Access, legislation intended to modernize lawful access authorities and equip law enforcement with the tools needed to address crime in an increasingly digital world.

While we support the bill's public safety objectives, Canada must ensure that efforts to enhance lawful access do not inadvertently weaken the cybersecurity, privacy, and trust that Canadians, businesses, and governments rely on every day.

Our submission identifies several cybersecurity, privacy, and consumer protection concerns that warrant additional safeguards, including:

• Protecting strong encryption while clarifying the definition of a systemic vulnerability;
• Avoiding broad metadata retention requirements that could create privacy and security risks;
• Providing greater certainty regarding the designation and obligations of core providers;
• Ensuring transparency and appropriate limits on non-disclosure requirements; and
• Establishing clear safeguards, due diligence requirements, and challenge mechanisms for technical assistance demands.

Strong encryption and secure digital systems are foundational to Canada's economic resilience, innovation ecosystem, and national security. We encourage the government to continue engaging collaboratively with industry stakeholders, technical experts, academics, legal scholars, and civil society organizations to ensure law enforcement has the tools necessary to address evolving public safety threats while safeguarding the privacy, security, and integrity of Canada's digital infrastructure.

Read our submission