The federal government is preparing to amend key portions of its controversial lawful access legislation following mounting criticism from privacy advocates, technology companies, cybersecurity experts and even lawmakers in the United States over concerns that the bill could weaken digital privacy protections for Canadians.
Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s Public Safety Minister, confirmed Wednesday that Ottawa intends to revise sections of the proposed legislation dealing with encryption, metadata collection and obligations imposed on telecommunications and technology providers.
The announcement signals a significant shift by the Canada government after weeks of intense opposition to what critics describe as one of the country’s most far-reaching digital surveillance proposals in years.
Anandasangaree emphasized that the legislation was never intended to break encrypted communications or force companies to compromise user security.
“The encryption issue is one we will clarify because this bill was never meant to breach encryption,” the minister said while speaking to reporters in Ottawa.
He acknowledged that the wording surrounding “systemic vulnerabilities” within the bill had generated confusion and concern and stated the government would now clarify the language to explicitly ensure that breaching encryption would not be permitted.
The government also plans to redefine and clarify the legislation’s treatment of metadata — the digital information surrounding communications such as timestamps, locations and sender-recipient details, but not necessarily the content of messages themselves.
Critics argue metadata can still reveal highly sensitive personal information about individuals’ habits, movements, relationships and online activities even without accessing the actual communication content.
Anandasangaree said Ottawa intends to align Canada’s metadata provisions more closely with similar lawful access frameworks in the United States.
The proposed legislation has become one of the most debated technology and privacy issues currently before Parliament.
The bill is designed to give law enforcement agencies and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) expanded legal authority to obtain digital communications and technical assistance from telecommunications companies and online service providers during criminal and national security investigations.
Under the proposed law, authorities could require providers such as Bell Canada or Rogers Communications to confirm whether specific individuals or phone numbers are associated with their services.
The legislation would also require certain providers to develop and maintain technical capabilities enabling police and intelligence agencies to access communications data during lawful investigations.
Additionally, the bill would allow the public safety minister to issue confidential ministerial orders compelling providers to build specific technical capabilities — even for companies not classified as core telecommunications providers.
Technology and privacy companies have strongly opposed the proposal.
Meta warned that aspects of the legislation could effectively force companies to weaken encryption protections or create surveillance capabilities that undermine secure communications platforms.
Apple similarly argued the legislation could create pathways for governments to pressure companies into building “backdoors” into encrypted devices and services.
Encrypted messaging platform Signal and VPN provider NordVPN have both reportedly warned they could reconsider operating in Canada if the law ultimately requires them to compromise user privacy protections.
Civil liberties organizations and legal scholars have also raised alarms, arguing the legislation risks significantly expanding state surveillance powers while weakening constitutional privacy protections guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
One of the most controversial provisions would allow future regulations requiring providers to retain metadata records for up to one year, even for individuals not suspected of criminal activity.
Opponents argue such measures could create massive databases of sensitive information about ordinary Canadians with no connection to crimes or national security threats.
Supporters of the legislation, however, argue law enforcement agencies urgently require updated tools to investigate modern digital crime, cyber threats, organized criminal networks and terrorism in an increasingly encrypted online environment.
The government maintains the bill is intended to modernize investigative powers while remaining compliant with constitutional privacy protections.
Anandasangaree said Ottawa is now open to additional amendments, including provisions related to compensation for electronic service providers required to comply with lawful access orders.
The legislation is currently being studied by the House of Commons public safety committee, where further revisions and political negotiations are expected in the coming weeks.
The outcome of the debate could have major implications for the future of digital privacy, cybersecurity and government surveillance powers in Canada as lawmakers attempt to balance public safety concerns with growing demands for stronger online privacy protections.