Google joins privacy backlash and warns Canada Bill C-22 could 'break end-to-end encryption' and create a 'surveillance infrastructure'

Date:
Wed, 27 May 2026 14:07:17 +0000

Description:
After the privacy tech industry, Google and Apple are warning that Canada's proposed Bill C-22 could force developers to build backdoors into their devices, and push for strict judicial oversight.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Google and Apple are urging Canadian lawmakers to provide explicit protections for end-to-end encryption Tech giants warn that, as it stands, Canada's Bill C-22 could weaken overall user security The proposed law has already faced severe backlash from Meta, Signal, VPN providers, and privacy advocates Google and Apple have
intensified their opposition to Canada's controversial Bill C-22, warning
that the proposed legislation could force them to compromise end-to-end encryption and create massive cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

What's also known as the Lawful Access Act proposed by Canada's ruling Liberal Party and is currently being debated in the House of Commons aims to give law enforcement greater access to data to investigate security threats. However, tech companies fear that the legislation grants the government unchecked authority to issue secret orders without judicial oversight. For everyday citizens, the stakes couldn't be higher. If the bill passes in its current form, the devices and secure messaging apps users rely on daily could be secretly compromised. To protect your digital footprint from government overreach, utilizing the best VPNs or encrypted messaging apps is becoming an increasingly essential step. But even the strongest privacy tools struggle if underlying device encryption is legally mandated to feature a backdoor. You may like ExpressVPN joins the backlash against Canada's controversial Bill C-22 Proton joins the backlash against Canada's surveillance bill Windscribe joins Signal in threatening Canada exit over controversial surveillance bill

In testimony before the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, representatives from both Google and Apple pushed lawmakers to add explicit protections for encryption.

"Secret orders are out of step with other democratic countries and would severely restrict companies' ability to be transparent with users about how their data is protected," said Jeanette Patell, director for government affairs and public policy in Canada for Google as reported by Reuters . The ongoing backlash against Bill C-22 The proposed legislation would require "electronic service providers" to adjust their systems to give surveillance and monitoring capabilities to police services and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). It could also force companies to retain user metadata for up to a year.

In a brief submitted to the committee, Google warned that the bill
establishes a "surveillance infrastructure" and gives the Minister of Public Safety sweeping powers. The search giant cautioned that without a stronger definition of what constitutes a "systemic vulnerability," the law could be used to mandate backdoors.

"Without a stronger definition of 'systemic vulnerability,' the law could be used to decrease overall user security, by creating backdoors that would
break end-to-end encryption and create significant cybersecurity risks, facilitating foreign interference and weakening global user privacy," Google stated in its submission.

The company was absolute in its stance on user privacy: "Google has never built a backdoor or other mechanism to circumvent end-to-end encryption in
our products. If we say a product is end-to-end encrypted, it is end-to-end encrypted." Regarding Canada's Bill C-22: @ProtonVPN is Swiss. Complying with foreign surveillance orders without Swiss legal process is a criminal
offence. Not happening.We'll defend our Canadian users and never compromise them. We will fight C-22's application by every means available. pic.twitter.com/zXjx9AaMG5 May 19, 2026 Google is not fighting this battle alone. The bill has faced steep pushback from encrypted messaging app Signal
, as well as Meta and major VPN providers like Windscribe , ExpressVPN , and Proton VPN . What to read next From 'encryption backdoor' to 'lawful access' is a compromise between privacy, security, and law enforcement needs actually possible? The UK warned 'not to undermine the open web' as Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill becomes law UK governments child safety plans
could expose kids to 'greater harms,' warns VPN industry group

Apple has also drawn a hard line. When asked by a Conservative member of parliament whether Apple would pull out of Canada if forced to build a backdoor, Erik Neuenschwander, Apple's senior director for user privacy and child safety, kept the pressure on lawmakers.

"I can't speculate what would happen in that situation," Neuenschwander said, according to Reuters . "Through this engagement and the continued dialogue,
we hope to have positive amendments made to the bill."

Apple's threat is far from empty. The iPhone maker recently demonstrated its willingness to walk away from markets rather than compromise user security, famously killing its iCloud end-to-end encryption feature in the UK after receiving a secret order.

Whether Canada will force a similar tech exodus remains to be seen. Today's best VPN deals NordVPN 2 Year 2.59 /mth View +3 months free Surfshark 24 Months 1.49 /mth View Proton VPN 24 Month 2.39 /mth View +4 MONTHS FREE ExpressVPN 24 month 1.99 /mth View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/google-joins-privacy-backla sh-and-warns-canada-bill-c-22-could-break-end-to-end-encryption-and-create-a-s urveillance-infrastructure


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