Police want new law to compel people to hand over passwords
Posted August 16, 2016 8:56 am.
Last Updated August 16, 2016 2:45 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – Canada’s police chiefs want a new law in place that would force people to hand over their computer passwords with a judge’s consent.
The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has passed a resolution calling for the legal measure to unlock digital evidence, saying criminals increasingly use encryption to hide illicit activities.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Joe Oliver says there is nothing currently in Canadian law that would compel someone to provide a password to police during an investigation. Oliver adds criminals, from child abusers to mobsters, are operating online in almost complete anonymity.
The police chiefs’ resolution comes as the federal government begins a consultation on cyber security, including the best ways to balance online freedoms with the needs of police.
The consultation runs until October 15th.
