European civil society organisations and digital rights experts have called on EU institutions to intervene over Canada’s Bill C-22, warning that the proposed Lawful Access Act could weaken encryption, expand surveillance capabilities, and impose broad metadata retention requirements. The open letter, published on 14 September, was addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath, and members of the European Parliament.
The signatories argue that the bill could affect European technology providers, including companies without Canadian users, if they have a Canadian entity or belong to a corporate group that carries out business activity in Canada. They warn that the legislation could allow Canadian authorities to require providers to develop technical capabilities enabling government access, potentially creating vulnerabilities that could affect users beyond individual surveillance targets.
by Digital Watch Observatory – EU urged to act on Canada’s Bill C‑22, the Lawful Access Act | Digital Watch Observatory
