Apple, Google say lawful access bill could undermine user safety, privacy – National
Apple, Google say lawful access bill could undermine user safety, privacy – National
https://globalnews.ca/news/11865152/lawful-access-privacy-apple-google/
Publish Date: 2026-05-26 17:37:00
Source Domain: globalnews.ca
Executives from Apple and Google urged the federal government to tighten rules in its proposed lawful access legislation to avoid creating vulnerabilities in their products, arguing so-called “backdoors” into encrypted data systems could be exploited by cyber criminals.
Bill C-22 would lead to the creation of regulations requiring “core” telecommunications providers to create “capabilities” for law enforcement to access information, and for the retention of user metadata for up to one year. Ministerial orders could then be given to other providers without judicial oversight.
Although the government has said the bill is “encryption neutral” and that it won’t push providers to create a “systemic vulnerability,” the companies added to the growing chorus of concerns that the current language in the legislation — including the definition of a “systemic vulnerability” — is broad enough that encryption could still be at risk.
“Speaking as an engineer, we do not know of a way to deploy encryption technology that provides access only for the good guys without creating new ways for the bad guys to break in,” Erik Neuenchwander, Apple’s senior director of user privacy and child safety, told the House of Commons public safety committee.
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“In other words, when you build a backdoor into an encrypted device, anyone can walk through.”
He pointed to the 2024 Salt Typhoon cyberattack on U.S. government systems that exploited access points created under that country’s own lawful access bill.
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“That law was narrower than Bill C-22,” he said. “So imagine what could happen if more companies were required to create these vulnerabilities.”
Jeanette Patell, the director of government affairs…
