Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Bill C-22 [1] will not compromise encryption and that the government will amend the legislation to protect privacy.
The move follows significant pushback from technology companies and U.S. politicians. Critics argue that the lawful-access bill could weaken digital security and undermine the privacy of citizens by creating vulnerabilities in encrypted communication.
Speaking at a federal government press briefing in Ottawa on May 27 [1], Anandasangaree addressed the concerns regarding the bill's impact on data security. He said that the government is committed to maintaining the integrity of encryption while ensuring law enforcement has the necessary tools for lawful access.
"Bill C-22 [1] will not compromise encryption, and we are committed to protecting Canadians' privacy," Anandasangaree said [1].
The minister clarified that while the legislation is a priority for the government, it is not immune to changes based on security concerns. He said that the government is prepared to refine the language of the bill to prevent the creation of "backdoors" or other security flaws that could be exploited by malicious actors.
"We will amend the bill to ensure encryption remains intact," Anandasangaree said [2].
Despite the promise of amendments, the minister emphasized that the core objective of the legislation remains a necessity for public safety. He said that the balance between privacy and security is a central point of the ongoing legislative process.
"The lawful access bill is not optional, but we will see privacy amendments to protect encryption," Anandasangaree said [3].
The government has not yet released the specific text of the proposed amendments. However, the commitment to protect encryption aims to soothe tensions with the global tech industry, which has long warned that mandated access for governments often leads to systemic security failures.
“"Bill C-22 will not compromise encryption, and we are committed to protecting Canadians' privacy."”
This development highlights the ongoing tension between national security imperatives and the technical realities of end-to-end encryption. By promising amendments, the Canadian government is attempting to avoid a diplomatic and economic clash with US-based tech giants who view any encryption mandate as a non-starter. The outcome will depend on whether the amendments provide a genuine technical safeguard or merely offer political reassurance while maintaining the bill's original surveillance goals.
