Canada’s Bill C-8 (formerly Bill C-26) is proposed cybersecurity legislation that would introduce broad information collection and sharing powers, including the warrantless collection of information from telecommunication providers, and could also undermine encryption and communications security.
In a brief submitted by the Citizen Lab to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) of Bill C-8, senior research associate Kate Robertson sets out targeted recommendations to respond to constitutional deficits in the bill that were not addressed during the study and amendment of Bill C-26.
According to Robertson, “addressing the warrantless nature of this collection power should be this committee’s priority in studying the legislation.” Adding that Bill C-8 also “needs to be amended to make certain and clarify that its orders cannot be issued to compromise the security of Canada’s communication networks.”
On November 4, 2025, Robertson will testify on Bill C-8 in the House of Commons’ SECU Committee Meeting.
Read the Citizen Lab’s submission.
Read related coverage in The Hill Times:
“Bill aimed at protecting telecom infrastructure against cyberattacks strikes at privacy rights, say civil society groups“