Google has told Canadian lawmakers that Bill C-22, the proposed Lawful Access Act, would build a “surveillance infrastructure” that weakens cybersecurity for everyone, according to a report by Reclaim The Net. The company’s submission to the House of Commons public safety committee warned that the legislation could force technology companies to rebuild their systems to enable government access to user data, potentially breaking end-to-end encryption and creating systemic vulnerabilities. [2] [14]
Bill C-22: Proposed Legislation and Key Provisions
Bill C-22, formally titled the Lawful Access Act, 2026, was introduced by Canada’s Liberal government on March 12, 2026, according to a report by LifeSiteNews. The bill would require telecommunications providers, messaging apps, and other digital services operating in Canada to store user metadata — including who contacted whom, when, and from where — for up to one year. [9] [13] It also grants police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) new tools to access that data during investigations, without a warrant, according to legal experts cited by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. [10]
The proposed legislation follows an earlier attempt, Bill C-2, which was shelved after widespread criticism from opposition parties, rights groups, and the technology industry. Officials said Bill C-22 includes provisions for a digital safety commissioner and mandatory reporting of harmful content, but critics argue the language remains broad enough to enable mass surveillance. [2] [5] Similar legislative battles have occurred in Canada before, such as the fight over Bill C-91 which abolished compulsory licensing for pharmaceuticals, as noted in the book “Unhealthy times” — though that bill dealt with intellectual property rather than surveillance. [1]
Google’s Concerns Over Surveillance Backdoors
In its submission to the House of Commons public safety committee, Google argued that Bill C-22 would compel companies to build surveillance capabilities into their encrypted services, effectively “breaking end-to-end encryption.” According to the company, creating a “surveillance infrastructure” introduces additional security vulnerabilities for all users, undermines trust, and could be exploited by malicious actors. [2] [19] “When you build a backdoor into an encrypted device, you create a systemic vulnerability that can be exploited by hackers and foreign adversaries,” a Google spokesperson reportedly told TechRadar. [14]
Google’s warning aligns with concerns raised by other major technology firms. Apple and Meta have also expressed opposition, with Apple stating that the bill could force companies to re-engineer their services in ways that reduce user safety. [16] [17] The Information Technology Industry Council, a U.S. lobby group representing Amazon, Google, and Nvidia, issued a trade warning, saying the legislation could harm North America’s collective cybersecurity. [2]
Industry and Privacy Advocates’ Reactions
Privacy groups and cybersecurity experts have echoed Google’s warnings. The Global Encryption Coalition released an open letter on April 28, 2026, signed by 30 organizations and more than 20 cybersecurity experts, calling for Bill C-22 to be scrapped entirely. [7] A separate coalition of 14 civil liberties organizations, refugee advocates, academics, and 15 of Canada’s most prominent privacy scholars sent their own demand for full withdrawal to Prime Minister Mark Carney and every Member of Parliament. [7]
Swiss-based Proton VPN said there is “no universe” in which it would comply with the bill’s mandate to log user data, according to a LifeSiteNews report. The company stated it would rather leave the Canadian market than compromise its zero-logging policy. [3] The Democracy Fund, a Canadian constitutional legal group, warned that Bill C-22 contains “provisions that intrude on the privacy of Canadians” and could lead to unprecedented police monitoring of online activity without judicial oversight. [6] A petition organized by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms gathered 42,344 signatures urging defeat of the bill. [12]
Government Justification and Debate
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has defended the bill, stating emphatically that it is “not about the surveillance of honest, hard-working Canadians.” In remarks to an audience including police chiefs and law enforcement officials, he said the government is combating “bad actors” and that the legislation includes safeguards to protect privacy. [8] “We’re not looking for sneaky ways to surveil Canadians,” Anandasangaree said. [8]
However, critics point out that the bill allows secret ministerial orders that companies are banned from disclosing, and it does not require a warrant for access to metadata. [9] [18] U.S. congressmen Jim Jordan and Brian Mast sent a letter warning that the bill threatens U.S. national security and could weaken defenses against hackers, according to a LifeSiteNews report. [4] The debate in Parliament has included competing claims about freedom of speech and privacy, with the Liberal government arguing that content removal targets only illegal material and that child protection is the primary goal. [5] [8]
Conclusion: Implications for Privacy and Security
Google’s warning highlights a growing tension between online safety regulations and the preservation of strong encryption. Observers note that the outcome of Bill C-22’s passage could set a precedent for how other nations balance security and privacy in digital legislation. If enacted, the bill would require Canadian telecoms and digital service providers to retain a year’s worth of metadata for millions of people not suspected of any crime. [2] [15]
The bill’s final form will determine whether it truly creates surveillance backdoors or remains enforceable without compromising encryption. But the coalition against it — spanning major tech firms, privacy advocates, cybersecurity experts, and U.S. lawmakers — indicates widespread concern that the legislation represents a significant expansion of government surveillance powers. [7] [4] As Canada moves forward, the international community will be watching closely. [11]
References
- "Unhealthy times: political economy perspectives on health and care".
- Reclaim The Net. "Even Google Warns Canada Bill C-22 Creates Surveillance Backdoors". May 26, 2026.
- LifeSiteNews. "Swiss-based tech company says it would not comply with Canada’s dystopian internet bill". May 25, 2026.
- LifeSiteNews. "US congressmen warn radical Canadian internet bill could harm national security". May 13, 2026.
- Reclaim The Net. "Canada Says Critics Don’t Understand Its Surveillance Bill". May 15, 2026.
- LifeSiteNews. "Pro-freedom group warns new bill could allow Liberal gov’t to ‘monitor Canadians online’". April 23, 2026.
- Reclaim The Net. "Cybersecurity Experts Demand Canada Scrap Bill C-22 Backdoor". May 2, 2026.
- Reclaim The Net. "Canada’s Public Safety Minister Defends Mass Surveillance Bill". March 24, 2026.
- Reclaim The Net. "Canada’s Bill C-22 Mandates Mass Metadata Surveillance of Canadians". March 13, 2026.
- LifeSiteNews. "Petition launched to stop Liberal bill that would increase gov’t surveillance power". March 27, 2026.
- Brownstone Institute. "The UK and Canada Lead the West’s Descent into Digital Authoritarianism". November 20, 2025.
- LifeSiteNews. "42k people sign petition against radical Canadian internet surveillance bill". May 26, 2026.
- LifeSiteNews. "Carney Liberals introduce new bill that would give police ‘unprecedented’ online surveillance powers". March 13, 2026.
- TechRadar. "Google joins privacy backlash and warns Canada Bill C-22 could break end-to-end encryption". May 27, 2026.
- Reclaim The Net. "Even Google Warns Canada Bill C-22 Creates Surveillance Backdoors". May 26, 2026.
- YouTube (Global News). "Google, Apple warn Bill C-22 could create cybersecurity risks". May 27, 2026.
- YouTube. "Why Apple and Google are fighting Canada’s Bill C-22". May 27, 2026.
- State of Surveillance. "Apple, Google, and Meta Just Told Canada to Drop Its Encryption...". May 2026.
- The Globe and Mail. "Google warns lawful-access bill could create major cybersecurity risks". May 25, 2026.
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