Canadians are running out of time to oppose Bill C-22

What happened

Bill C-22 has already passed the House of Commons and is now being reviewed by the Canadian Senate. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is asking people in Canada to sign a petition against the bill before the Senate acts.

Key facts

• Metadata must be kept for up to one year. Metadata shows who people talk to, where they go, and what services they use.
• The bill covers digital services such as telecom companies and messaging apps.
• The Minister of Public Safety could order companies to build a backdoor for law enforcement, as long as it does not cause "systemic insecurity."
• Part 2 of the bill sets up the surveillance and data retention system. CCLA and Citizen Lab say this part should be withdrawn completely.

Why the bill is controversial

A backdoor is a hidden way into a service that skips its normal security. Experts warn that backdoors can weaken encryption, which is the scrambling that keeps messages and data safe. The bill also could let Canadian data be shared with foreign police, including in the United States, without a Canadian court checking the request. Canada is negotiating a cross-border data-sharing deal with the U.S. to make this happen.

Why it matters

The bill could affect the privacy of millions of people, including people who have not done anything wrong. Some senators have raised concerns that the bill may not fit with privacy protections in the Canadian constitution. The Senate's decision could shape how much of their personal information the government can reach.

What to watch

• Whether the Senate makes major changes to the bill or removes Part 2.
• The result of Canada's negotiations with the United States on data sharing.
• How many people sign the CCLA petition before the Senate votes.