There is a certain comedic irony in the Liberal government's plan to compel tech companies to surrender the private data of Canadians. Bill C-22, officially titled 'An Act respecting lawful access,' would grant the Government of Canada the authority to activate microphones on mobile devices without judicial oversight and force tech companies to create backdoors to encrypted data, among other invasive measures.
Hypocrisy in the Liberal approach
The irony stems from the Liberal government's history of criticizing big tech for undermining Canadian democracy while simultaneously eroding civil liberties. For instance, former heritage minister Steven Guilbeault argued in 2020 that big tech must be regulated to censor harmful materials, stating, 'We have free speech in our society, but people can't say everything.' Yet he also expressed concern about data privacy, acknowledging the need for regulations to protect rights.
Other Liberal figures have echoed similar sentiments. Nate Erskine-Smith, a former housing minister, has questioned big tech's data collection practices in the House of Commons, emphasizing the need for privacy protection. Pablo Rodriguez, a former heritage minister, urged tech companies in a 2022 speech to be 'more accountable to the public interest' and noted that 'with enormous power comes enormous responsibility.'
The digital services tax and hypocrisy
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, through a spokesperson in 2024, advocated for forcing companies to pay their 'fair share' via a digital services tax, which was rescinded in 2025. The Liberal government has consistently argued that unchecked power from large entities threatens Canadian civil liberties and national stability. However, it now seeks to assume that same power itself.
In a twist, American tech company Signal has threatened to cease service in Canada if Bill C-22 passes, rightly calling out the government's intrusion into privacy. This raises the question: why do Liberals deem it wrong when big tech invades privacy, but acceptable when they do the same?
