Canada Wants Digital Sovereignty. Bill C-22 Pulls the Other Way

6 hours ago

Canada's push for digital sovereignty is undermined by Bill C-22, which introduces lawful access requirements that compromise encryption and trust in domestic digital infrastructure.
Encryption is foundational to secure systems, protecting everything from personal data to national security; weakening it through mandatory access paths erodes trust and global credibility.
Bill C-22 creates legal attack surfaces, where mandated access capabilities can be targeted or abused, contradicting Canada's goal of building trustworthy domestic alternatives to foreign infrastructure.
Trust in digital systems depends on technical architecture, not policy language; if users believe systems are designed for state access, they will avoid Canadian providers, harming sovereignty efforts.
The bill risks Canada's reputation, as ambiguity around encryption may deter customers, businesses, and foreign partners, leading to economic and security costs without enhancing public safety.

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