Yanik Guillemette: The Economic Imperative of Digital Privacy in an Era of Surveillance
Yanik Guillemette: The Economic Imperative of Digital Privacy in an Era of Surveillance
Publish Date: 2026-05-09 15:32:00
Source Domain: www.manilatimes.net
MONTREAL, May 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Canada debates the future of its digital sovereignty, tech entrepreneur and investor Yanik Guillemette is emerging as a critical voice for civil liberties. In this interview, Guillemette analyzes the systemic risks of Bill C-22, the fragility of encryption, and why digital trust is the most undervalued asset in the Canadian economy.
Q: Yanik, why is Bill C-22 causing such friction between the tech sector and Ottawa?
Yanik Guillemette: “The friction isn’t just about a single bill; it’s about a fundamental shift in how Western governments view digital surveillance. When we discuss ‘lawful access,’ we are often talking about introducing systemic vulnerabilities. Encryption isn’t a luxury-it’s the bedrock of our financial systems, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure. Weakening it, even with good intentions, is a strategic error.”
Q: Proponents of the bill argue it’s a necessary tool for law enforcement. Isn’t there a middle ground for public safety?
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Yanik Guillemette: “Public safety is paramount, but we must distinguish between targeted investigations and the creation of structural weaknesses. History teaches us that surveillance powers, once expanded, almost never contract. My concern is the normalization of exceptional access. Technologies designed for ’emergencies’ inevitably become…
