Overview
Canada’s proposed law Bill C-22 (SAAIA) gives the government new powers to collect metadata from electronic services. Tech giants Apple and Meta strongly oppose the bill. They say it can force companies to break encryption and create backdoors. The bill is under debate in Canada’s House of Commons in 2026.
What Is Bill C-22?
Bill C-22 is a proposed law in Canada. Its full name is the Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act (SAAIA) . In 2026, the House of Commons is debating this bill. The bill gives the government new investigative powers. It focuses on electronic service providers like messaging apps, cloud storage, and social media companies.
What Does Part 2 of the Bill Allow?
The most debated part is Part 2 of Bill C-22. This part allows the Public Safety Minister to order electronic service providers to keep metadata. The company must keep this data for up to one year .
What kind of metadata? The bill lists four types:
-
Transmission data (who sent data to whom)
-
Device data (what device was used)
-
Routing data (how the data traveled)
-
Location data (where the user was)
This means companies must store records about user activities. They cannot delete this information even after some time.
What Is Encryption and Why Does It Matter?
Encryption is a way to turn readable information into a secret code. Only the person with the right key can read it. End-to-end encryption is very strong. It keeps messages private even from the company that runs the app. Many messaging apps and cloud services use this technology.
Bill C-22 raises a big question. Can the government force companies to break their own encryption?
Apple’s Position (6 May 2026)
On 6 May 2026 , Apple made a clear statement. Apple said Bill C-22 can allow the Canadian government to force companies to insert backdoors into their products. A backdoor is a secret way to bypass encryption. Apple warned that backdoors weaken security for all users. Criminals and hackers can also find and use these backdoors.
Meta’s Position (7 May 2026)
On 7 May 2026 , Meta’s Canada policy officials also spoke against the bill. Meta said the bill can require companies to build or maintain special capabilities. These capabilities would break, weaken, or circumvent encryption . Meta argued this is dangerous. It harms the privacy and safety of every Canadian who uses messaging services.
Why Do Apple and Meta Oppose the Bill?
Both companies agree on three main problems:
-
Weakened security – Breaking encryption makes all users less safe.
-
Government overreach – The bill gives too much power to collect private data.
-
No clear limits – Companies worry the law can be used broadly without proper oversight.
Current Status of Bill C-22
As of May 2026, Bill C-22 is still under debate. It has not become law yet. The House of Commons is listening to concerns from tech companies, privacy advocates, and legal experts. The final version may change before it passes.
FAQ Section
Q1: What does Bill C-22 stand for?
Bill C-22 is the Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act (SAAIA) . It is a proposed Canadian law.
Q2: What can the government do under this bill?
The Public Safety Minister can order electronic service providers to keep metadata for up to one year. This includes transmission data, device data, routing data, and location data.
Q3: Why do Apple and Meta oppose the bill?
They say the bill can force companies to break encryption and insert backdoors. This weakens security for all users and harms privacy.
Q4: When did Apple and Meta make their statements?
Apple spoke on 6 May 2026. Meta spoke on 7 May 2026.
Q5: Is Bill C-22 a law now?
No. In 2026, it is still under debate in Canada’s House of Commons.
Q6: What is a backdoor in encryption?
A backdoor is a secret way to bypass encryption. It lets someone read private messages without the user’s permission.
Q7: Does this bill affect regular Canadians?
If passed, the bill can affect anyone who uses messaging apps, email, cloud storage, or social media in Canada. Companies may have to keep records of user activities.
Exam-Focused Points
-
Bill name: Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act (SAAIA), also called Bill C-22
-
Country: Canada
-
Year of debate: 2026 (House of Commons)
-
Key provision (Part 2): Public Safety Minister can order metadata retention for up to one year
-
Four metadata types: Transmission data, device data, routing data, location data
-
Opposition: Apple (6 May 2026) and Meta (7 May 2026)
-
Main concern: Bill can force companies to break encryption and insert backdoors
-
Encryption definition: Converting readable information into coded form
-
End-to-end encryption: Used in messaging and cloud services; keeps data private from service providers
-
Risk of backdoors: Weakens security for all users; can be exploited by criminals