‘Threat to our privacy’

Dear Editor:

I’ve been very concerned to learn about the government’s surveillance bill, Bill C-22, the Lawful Access Act. I believe, like many organizations that have spoken against it, that it is one of the greatest threats to our privacy in the last two decades. Bill C-22 threatens our Charter rights by:

– granting police easier access to our personal information;

– forcing companies to create backdoors to allow police and spy agencies to scoop up our personal data and communications, making online protections like encryption meaningless;

– allowing the government to order companies to hold on to our personal information for up to a year, creating a treasure trove of data to be targeted by hackers;

– risking more of our information being shared with U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies; and

– increasing the powers and reach of Canadian police and intelligence agencies, who have a long history of spying on and undermining activists, organizers and marginalized communities.

On top of all this, the government has rushed another dangerous bill through the House of Commons; one that risks our privacy as well as our security online.

Several MPs, cybersecurity experts, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Apple, Meta, Signal, NordVPN and even U.S. Congressional leaders have warned against this bill. It’s time for the government to listen and protect the rights of people in Canada. And if it doesn’t, the Senate must act!

Joseph Lavoie,
Waterloo