Tech firms and civil libertarians are sounding the alarm about “lawful access” legislation the Liberals seem hellbent on passing before summer. They warn that the backdoor it would create to access people’s encrypted internet communications puts us all at risk and makes it impossible for secure platforms to operate in Canada. Security officials say it’s necessary to keep up with the online criminals they lack modern tools to catch. Richard Fadden, former national security adviser to the prime minister, tells Brian Lilley why Bill C-22 strikes a reasonable balance and the fears of serious privacy violations are unwarranted. Natalie Campbell, senior director at the Internet Society, explains why the dangers are real, and even graver than most people realize. (Recorded June 11 and 12, 2026.)







