Apple, Google urge Canada to add oversight to Bill C-22

Apple and Google have formally urged Canadian lawmakers to amend proposed legislation that would grant authorities new powers to access encrypted data, arguing the bill creates a potential for secret orders that could weaken user security. The companies are specifically calling for judicial oversight to be built into the process before such orders can be issued.

The legislation, known as Bill C-22, is currently being debated in the House of Commons. The government has stated the bill aims to help law enforcement and security agencies investigate threats earlier and act more quickly. It would mandate that electronic service providers retain certain metadata for up to one year and lower the threshold for police access to subscriber information. A central and contentious provision grants the Minister of Public Safety the power to issue secret orders compelling service providers to build technical capabilities for surveillance.

During testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, representatives from both technology firms argued this provision could force them to create security vulnerabilities, often referred to as backdoors,...