Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has accused American technology firms of “misunderstanding” his lawful access legislation, which aims to facilitate quicker access for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to Canadians’ data during investigations, amid increasing criticism from the U.S.
The proposed Bill C-22 mandates that telecommunications, internet, and social media companies modify their systems to provide police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) easier access to information for investigations, contingent on securing a warrant. Additionally, core providers would be required to retain metadata for a period of up to one year.
This legislation has garnered backing from police chiefs nationwide and CSIS, who have long contended that they are hindered by outdated legal frameworks in an increasingly digital landscape.
As the government’s second attempt at a lawful access bill, it has drawn significant attention from privacy advocates and civil rights groups within Canada. Currently, the bill’s requirements for private companies are facing strong opposition from some of the largest technology firms globally, as well as two congressional committees in the United States.
Visitors take photos at a sign outside Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on March 26, 2026. (Noah Berger/The Associaed Press/File)
Recently, Apple and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, publicly expressed concerns, indicating that the Liberal government’s proposal would jeopardize their encryption services and potentially expose them to cyber threats.
During a parliamentary committee session the previous week, Rachel Curran, Meta’s public policy lead in Canada, cautioned that the bill would “draft private companies into the role of the government’s surveillance tool.”
The legislation contains a provision stating that electronic service providers are not obligated to comply if it results in introducing a “systemic vulnerability.” However, critics argue that the term ‘systemic vulnerability’ lacks clarity and should be revised to explicitly ban any actions that might compromise or dismantle encryption.
Curran’s prepared statements noted, “Creating back doors for law enforcement into encrypted systems is not feasible without establishing vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious entities.”
She added, “Compromising encryption impacts not just the focus of an investigation, but all Canadians depending on secure communications for banking, accessing healthcare, managing their businesses, or simply staying in touch with family and friends.”
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In a statement issued last week, Apple, which employs encryption to safeguard users’ health information, family locations, messages, images, and financial data, hinted that it might discontinue certain privacy offerings if Bill C-22 is enacted in its current form.
The company had previously removed its most robust data security feature — the Advanced Data Protection program — from U.K. customers after the British government requested access to its content via a back door.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said ‘we have to better inform’ Canadians and all stakeholders about Bill C-22, Ottawa’s proposed lawful access legislation, which faces pushback from U.S. tech companies.
According to Apple’s public statement, “This legislation could permit the Canadian government to compel companies to undermine encryption by embedding back doors in their products — something Apple will never agree to.”
They added, “In a time marked by increasing and widespread threats from malicious actors aiming to obtain user data, Bill C-22, as currently drafted, would erode our capability to provide the strong privacy and security features that users expect from Apple.”
During a press conference on Wednesday, Anandasangaree remarked that large tech companies are “seizing this opportunity to reinforce their position.”
He stated, “Tech giants are misinterpreting several of the safeguards already embedded in the bill, including those that ensure that encryption remains uninterrupted as part of Bill C-22.”
U.S. congressional committees now paying attention
Two American congressional committees have also recognized the significance of the Canadian bill.
In a correspondence to Anandasangaree late last week, Republican representatives Jim Jordan, chair of the judiciary committee, and Brian Mast, who leads the foreign affairs committee, claimed that the bill would “significantly broaden Canada’s surveillance and data access authorities in ways that pose substantial cross-border risks to the security and data privacy of Americans.”
The letter expressed, “American firms operating in Canada would be faced with a challenging decision: compromising the security of their entire user base — which includes U.S. citizens — or risking exclusion from the Canadian market.”
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“Either scenario jeopardizes U.S. national security and economic interests by undermining confidence in American technology and inviting similar demands from other countries.”
Anandasangaree remarked that the issues raised in the letter indicate “we need to enhance our educational efforts.”
He stated, “We must better inform not only Canadians but everyone monitoring the bill about the essential safeguards incorporated into it.”
The bill’s technical assistance requirements stem from feedback from police and CSIS that working with providers is often inconsistent and unreliable during urgent investigations.
The government asserts that the proposed changes would furnish investigators with an organized framework “akin to a filing cabinet, where specific information types would be accessible with legal authorization.”
“We anticipate support from various parties,” Anandasangaree mentioned. “And we aim to see this through to completion.”