- Bill C-22 (Lawful Access Act, 2026) expands government legal tools to identify and track Canadians online, potentially chilling free speech.
- The bill passed with limited parliamentary debate and amendments, raising alarms among civil liberties groups, lawyers, and opposition MPs.
- The UK's similar legal framework results in high arrest rates for online speech, serving as a cautionary example for Canada.
- Bill C-22 allows production orders on 'reasonable grounds to suspect' and mandates service providers to build surveillance capabilities and retain metadata for up to six months.
- Critics argue key provisions are unconstitutional, may weaken encryption, and infringe on privacy without sufficient need demonstrated.
- The bill is part of a broader legislative pattern including Bills C-8 (cybersecurity) and C-9 (hate speech), enhancing state powers over digital activity.
- Privacy advocates warn that foreign data-sharing provisions could facilitate U.S. access to Canadians' data through agreements like the CLOUD Act.
- The Senate review is seen as the final check on the bill, determining its impact on digital rights and alignment with democratic norms.