Apple, Google and other tech firms oppose Canada’s proposed police data access law

Major technology companies including Apple and Google are opposing Canada’s proposed Bill C-22, known as the Lawful Access Act, which would expand police access to citizens’ data.

Critics have raised concerns about provisions dealing with metadata retention and government mandates for data interception and retrieval capabilities. The proposed law has drawn particular scrutiny from privacy advocates and technology companies because of its potential implications for encrypted services and the handling of user information.

Encrypted messaging app Signal has threatened to withdraw from Canada if it is forced to compromise user privacy. Shopify chief executive Tobi Lütke also warned that the bill could significantly harm Canada’s technology industry.

The dispute places Canada in the center of a broader global debate over how governments should balance law enforcement access, cybersecurity and digital privacy, especially as encrypted communications and cloud-based services become more central to daily life and business operations.