Probes into Toronto's shooter-for-hire network thwarted by impenetrable phone
a day ago
- Toronto police investigation into a series of shootings, including a March attack on the U.S. consulate, is stalled because a key cellphone running the highly secure GrapheneOS operating system cannot be unlocked.
- GrapheneOS, created by Toronto programmer Daniel Micay, is a free, privacy-focused OS based on Android, praised by Edward Snowden and designed without backdoors or remote access capabilities.
- Police believe the phone contains communications linking to mercenary gunmen hired via encrypted messages, similar to other shootings targeting buildings and businesses.
- Toronto police support Bill C-22, proposed federal legislation that would force electronic service providers to facilitate data interception, but the bill faces opposition from tech companies and civil liberties advocates.
- While most cellphones can be cracked by digital forensics companies like Cellebrite and Magnet Forensics, GrapheneOS appears exceptionally difficult to penetrate.
- The GrapheneOS project condemns violence and states it cannot assist law enforcement even if requested, as its security architecture prevents bypassing protections.
- The debate over balancing privacy and security intensifies, with concerns that Bill C-22's data-retention requirements may be unconstitutional and could drive privacy-focused tech companies out of Canada.