OTTAWA — A new Liberal government bill meant to help police and intelligence agencies investigate crime online is facing strong criticism from technology companies, legal experts and civil liberties groups who say it could threaten Canadians’ privacy.
The government says the proposed “lawful access” bill would give authorities updated tools to deal with modern crimes while still protecting Canadians’ rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Critics argue the bill gives police and intelligence agencies too much power and could lead to increased surveillance of ordinary Canadians.
One part of the bill would make it easier for police to get subscriber information from telecom companies like Bell and Rogers. Authorities would still need court approval, but some legal experts say the standard for getting the information is too low and may violate privacy rights.
Another section would require companies to create systems that allow police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to access information during investigations. Companies including Meta Platforms and Apple Inc. warn the rules could weaken encryption and create security risks.
Privacy advocates also raised concerns about rules allowing service providers to store metadata — information such as location data and who people communicate with — for up to one year. Critics say this could create a large surveillance system that tracks the activities of millions of Canadians.
The government denies the bill would allow secret spying through devices like smart TVs or phones without proper legal approval.
