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FIRST READING: New bill would allow police to turn personal tech into listening devices  

Bill C-22 could force tech companies to allow police to eavesdrop through phones and smart speakers

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FIRST READING: New bill would allow police to turn personal tech into listening devices   Back to video

A new bill currently before the House of Commons could allow Canadian law enforcement to eavesdrop via the microphones on personal tech devices, be it a cell phone, a laptop or a smart speaker.

What’s more, under the secrecy provisions of the bill, tech companies would be required by law to deny that any such eavesdropping was taking place.

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Bill C-22, a “lawful access” bill tabled in March before the House of Commons, is a package of new powers requiring Canada’s “electronic service providers” to provide police with streamlined access to everything from subscriber information to location data.

Within those powers is a requirement for providers to provide “all reasonable assistance” to investigators looking to access personal tech devices. As the bill reads, providers must “permit the assessment or........

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