Toronto VPN Provider Psiphon Plans to Leave Canada Over Bill C-22

Psiphon Threatens to Relocate

Psiphon, a Toronto-based software company that helps internet users living under oppressive regimes evade online censorship, plans to leave Canada if the federal government's lawful-access bill passes in its current form, according to reporting by The Globe and Mail.

The company was originally created as a Citizen Lab project in 2006 and became a private company soon afterward. It now has 20 million monthly users worldwide who rely on the software to bypass online censorship in countries such as Iran, Myanmar, Russia, and China.

What Bill C-22 Would Require

If passed, Bill C-22 would require electronic service providers to make secret changes to their systems to provide police services and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) with surveillance and monitoring capabilities.

Despite its Toronto roots, Psiphon says it is prepared to move its operations out of Canada if the bill passes, because it would be forced to compromise crucial safety features put in place to protect the privacy of its users.

Criticism From The Citizen Lab

Ron Deibert, founder and director of The Citizen Lab, said the bill "will make it impossible for a large number of invaluable privacy-preserving tools and applications from operating in Canada."

The Citizen Lab has also submitted its own analysis of the Lawful Access Act, identifying issues including the bill's sweeping scope, significant constitutional and human rights risks, transparency and accountability deficits, and dangers to encryption and Canada's cybersecurity. The submission recommends entirely withdrawing several elements of the bill and suggests amendments to mitigate harms.

Sources: citizenlab.ca