GoKawiilPsiphon threatens to leave Canada if Bill C-22 surveillance law passes
Psiphon, a Toronto-based anti-censorship VPN company spun out of Citizen Lab, says it will relocate out of Canada if Bill C-22 becomes law in its current form. The bill would require electronic service providers to secretly modify their systems to give police and CSIS surveillance capabilities. Psiphon, used by 20 million people monthly in countries like Iran and China, says complying would undermine the privacy protections central to its service.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The dispute highlights tension between national security legislation and privacy tools used by dissidents under authoritarian regimes. Citizen Lab founder Ron Deibert argues the bill could push privacy-focused tech companies out of Canada entirely, which could weaken the country's standing as a hub for such software. If Psiphon follows through, it may set a precedent for how other privacy and security firms respond to the legislation.
- Psiphon may relocate outside Canada if Bill C-22 passes unchanged
- The bill would mandate secret backdoor-style changes for police and CSIS access
- Citizen Lab warns the law could drive privacy-tool companies out of Canada
Source: citizenlab.ca — Anna Mackay, 2026-10-06
Published there as: “Toronto-Based VPN Provider Plans to Quit Canada over Lawful-Access Bill”
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