Apple, Google push for judicial oversight in Canada online safety bill

Tech giants Apple and Alphabet's Google are pressing Canada to revise its proposed online safety bill, specifically requesting the inclusion of judicial oversight for any orders that could compel them to break software encryption. The companies argue that the current bill, debated in the House of Commons, poses a significant risk to user privacy and data security.

Bill C-22, introduced by Canada's Liberal Party, aims to enhance law enforcement's ability to investigate security threats by accessing encrypted data. While not explicitly mandating tech firms to break encryption, Apple, Google, and Meta Platforms have voiced strong opposition, fearing the creation of a regulatory environment where they could be forced to build backdoors into their services.

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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.

Representatives from Apple and Google testified before a parliamentary committee, emphasizing their concerns about "secret orders." Jeanette Patell, Google's director for government affairs and public policy in Canada, stated that such orders are "out of step with other democratic countries" and would severely limit companies' ability to inform users about data protection.

Apple has prior experience with such demands, having withdrawn encrypted cloud backup features from the UK last year after receiving a secret order to break encryption. When questioned about potentially leaving Canada, Apple's Erik Neuenschwander, senior director for user privacy and child safety, declined to speculate but expressed hope for positive amendments through ongoing dialogue.

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