Canada’s spy agency says the lack of a “lawful access” regime that would give it easier access to Canadians’ digital data has frustrated its ability to help foreign intelligence partners combat transnational threats, including those moving into Canada.
In a rare on-the-record briefing, Nicole Giles, deputy director of policy and strategic partnerships at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, said that, in one instance, the agency was unable to respond to a request from a “like-minded” foreign intelligence partner to identify suspects found to have Canadian phone numbers.
