US EditionNew Liberal Bill Seeks to Give Police New Powers to Access Digital Information
Bill C-22 modernizes data access rules for police and CSIS, requiring warrants for most data and enabling requests to foreign online providers, aligning with Five Eyes partners.
- On March 12, 2026, the federal government of Canada tabled bill C-22 in the House of Commons to expand police and CSIS access to online subscriber and transmission data, including from Google, Meta, and OpenAI.
- Facing prior controversy over C-2, the government says police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service need updated tools to investigate threats, noting Canada lacks lawful-access powers unlike other Five Eyes partners.
- Internet and phone companies would be required to confirm service to a person without a warrant, while production orders for names and addresses need a judicial warrant under a "reasonable" suspicion threshold.
- Civil-Liberties advocates warned earlier versions could reveal whether someone has an online account, risking exposure of sensitive details, with a sextortion example showing how platforms like Meta and ISPs could be used in investigations.
- Despite aiming for cross-border reach, the minister could issue orders to compel core electronic service providers to develop capabilities like cellphone-tracking, approved by the federal intelligence commissioner, but officials say foreign providers cannot be forced to share data.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Sask Today
New government bill would help police, spy service probe online activities
Collingwood Today
Here's what the Liberals' new bill on 'lawful access' for police and spies would do
OTTAWA — The federal government has tabled legislation in the House of Commons it says would help law enforcement and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service investigate threats.
Liberals Introduce ‘Lawful Access’ Bill to Give Police New Powers to Access Online Data
The Liberal government has introduced a new “lawful access” bill that would give police expanded powers to access certain data from electronic service providers during criminal investigations. The government introduced Bill C-22, also known as the Lawful Access Act, in the House of Commons on March 12. The new bill contains elements of Bill C-2, introduced last June, but aims to address some of the privacy concerns raised by opposition parties a…
A bill to facilitate access by Canadian police and secret services to digital data has been tabled in the House of Commons.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 79% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
