Apple and Google warn Canadian encryption bill could weaken user security

Apple and Google have warned Canadian lawmakers that proposed lawful access legislation could put user privacy and digital security at risk by forcing technology companies to alter products in ways that make surveillance easier.

The concerns centre on Bill C-22, also known as the Lawful Access Act, 2026, which was introduced in Canada’s House of Commons in March. The bill is designed to modernise how law enforcement agencies and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service access digital information during investigations.

During testimony before Canadian lawmakers, executives from Apple and Google argued that the proposal could create pressure on companies to weaken encrypted products or comply with secret government demands. The companies are seeking stronger protections for encryption, clearer limits on government powers and greater judicial oversight.

Apple has warned that the legislation could force technology providers to build access points into encrypted systems, creating vulnerabilities that could be exploited not only by authorities, but also by cybercriminals and hostile actors. Google raised similar concerns, arguing that secret orders could limit the ability of companies to explain to users how their data is protected.

The debate places Canada in the middle of a broader international fight over encrypted services. Governments argue that law enforcement agencies need better tools to investigate crime, national security threats and online harm, while major technology companies and civil liberties groups say any mandated weakness in encryption risks making all users less safe.

The proposed law would establish a framework requiring electronic service providers to facilitate access to information where authorised under existing Canadian law. The Canadian government says the measure is intended to help agencies respond to modern digital threats, but critics argue the language could still enable intrusive technical demands without sufficient transparency.

Apple, Google and other opponents are pushing for amendments before the bill advances further through Parliament. Their warnings reflect growing unease across the technology sector that lawful access powers, if written too broadly, could undermine the security protections relied on by millions of users.

For Canadians, the outcome of the debate could shape how private messages, cloud backups, device data and other encrypted services are protected in the years ahead. For the wider technology industry, Bill C-22 has become another major test of whether governments can expand investigative powers without weakening the security of the digital systems they seek to regulate.

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