Can Canada’s National police force still be trusted? This is a question on the minds of many Canadians.

The history of the RCMP taking liberty with enforcement is nothing new. One only needs look back in history to find the evidence of these tactics. Lately the RCMP is embroiled with internal conflict over the horrific case in Nova Scotia. Questions continue around political interference in this matter, and some accuse the RCMP of pushing the Government’s firearm agenda.

Now we see the RCMP again on the hot seat for using spyware on Canadians. Privacy experts have deep concerns regarding police and government use of this technology and must be tightly controlled. Unfortunately, the Canadian Criminal Code has not kept pace with technology and desperately needs to be updated, taking new technologies into account.

Michel Juneau-Katsuya in speaking with House of Commons privacy and ethics committee said that Canadian government agencies are likely using spyware to hack cellphones without people even realizing it. The committee has already found the RCMP has been using this technology for years. However former privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien (2014 – 2022) stated he was unaware of the RCMP using “on-device investigative tools” for more than a decade.
What’s even more troubling is the new privacy commissioner, Philippe Dufresne told the committee the RCMP never notified his office and he had to learn about the use of spyware by the RCMP through the media.

Canadians should be very concerned about privacy breeches by their government and enforcement agencies. Our devices are not designed to be secure, in fact the exact opposite is true. Everything about them including the apps we use is meant to be tracked. Armed with that knowledge it stands to reason these breeches of privacy will always lead to abuse. Canadian people have always expected more of their government and law enforcement agencies. Unfortunately, both are showing they no longer have integrity, nor can they be trusted.

To read The National Post article written by Ryan Tumilty, click here 

To read The National Post article written by, The Canadian Press Sarah Ritchie, click here