The Carney government's expanding power to identify Canadians online

5 hours ago

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.

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