Bill C-2's Warrantless Access to Personal Data Sparks Privacy Concerns
Bill C-2, an omnibus border measures bill, is currently under debate in the House of Commons. The bill includes controversial lawful access provisions that allow warrantless access to personal information, sparking privacy concerns and calls for its removal.
The lawful access provisions in Bill C-2 grant law enforcement the power to demand information from service providers without a warrant. This includes subscriber details, transmission data, and location information. The bill also introduces a one-year gag order and a five-day challenge period for information demand power, applicable to any public service provider, not just telecom and internet companies.
During the debate, 'fentanyl' was mentioned more than 'privacy', indicating a lack of focus on privacy concerns. Liberal MP Julie Dzerowicz defended the warrantless access provisions, claiming they balance law enforcement access and privacy rights. However, critics argue that the provisions should be removed and reconsidered in light of Supreme Court jurisprudence and Canadian privacy concerns. Some propose separating the lawful access provisions into a separate bill to give each issue sufficient attention.
Bill C-2's lawful access provisions allow warrantless access to personal information, raising privacy concerns. As the House of Commons resumes debate, the government should consider removing these provisions and rethinking its approach to lawful access.
