Canada Wants Its Own COPM

It’s no secret that several countries have already implemented systems that log all (or nearly all) user-generated traffic. Watching this play out, other nations are eager to adopt the practice. After all, controlling users and the information they post or view is a surefire way to quickly suppress any backlash from the opposition or disgruntled citizens at the earliest stages.

The Evolution of the Bill

Bill C-22 isn’t the first of its kind; it’s an updated iteration of Bill C-2, which proposed amendments to immigration, national security, and money laundering laws. Initially, it allowed police and intelligence services to request data on which services residents used without a warrant. This triggered a massive public outcry, particularly regarding personal privacy, forcing a rewrite.

The revised version clarifies that these surveillance measures will target ISPs and telecom companies, while supposedly exempting medical records and data protected by attorney-client privilege.

What This Means for Tech Providers

What exactly will electronic service providers (ISPs, phone companies, instant messengers, and tech giants) be forced to do?

• They must install equipment capable of storing metadata for 12 months.
• This data must definitively prove whether a specific individual used a service or not.
• Essentially, almost every communication tool will become a surveillance instrument, especially since the bill suggests not informing the end-user about the monitoring.

A Recipe for Corruption? This naturally raises a question: could this system lead to corruption, extortion, and blackmail? It’s highly likely. With zero warrant requirements, there is virtually no accountability or audit trail for data access, while regular citizens will continue to falsely believe their private data is secure.

What’s Left for Canadians If the Bill Passes?

• Saying Goodbye to Tech Giants: Canadians might have to part ways with certain digital services that could choose to exit the market. This includes giants like Google, Apple, Meta, Nvidia, and Amazon. For corporations, this means losing users and advertising/subscription revenue; for citizens, it means the major inconvenience of losing tools and apps they’ve relied on for years.
• Mastering Workarounds: Users will have to study bypass methods if they aren't ready to give up their Gmail accounts. The most obvious solution here is using a VPN to route traffic through countries that don't enforce such laws and restrictions. (While even sanction-related payment restrictions have their workarounds, we won't dive into those here).