Canada's C-22 Bill Sparks Encryption Exodus Threats from Signal, Psiphon

The C-22 legislation proposed by Canada in 2025, which underwent revisions due to backlash, mandates that technology companies, including international ones, provide law enforcement with access to data. If this bill is enacted, Psiphon VPN intends to exit Canada, while Signal has stated it would leave due to unacceptable stipulations. The legislation has faced criticism from Apple and Meta, with DuckDuckGo and NordVPN considering service withdrawals. C-22 may force firms to store user metadata, contrary to the practices of privacy-centric services. Members of the US House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees cautioned about possible vulnerabilities and backdoors. Experts such as Kate Robertson and Afsaneh Rigot emphasized the dangers of enhanced surveillance. Similar legislative efforts are underway in the UK, Australia, EU, France, India, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.