Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaCanadian PoliticsGoogle says changes to Canada’s police search powers bill haven't eased concernsChanges to the bill include explicitly stating it will not require decryption of encrypted information and reducing the metadata retention period to six months, instead of one yearAuthor of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.The Google logo outside a building housing Google offices in Beijing\. Photo by GREG BAKER /AFP via Getty ImagesAlphabet Inc.’s Google said Canada’s changes to a proposed law that would help police obtain citizen data from private companies don’t resolve many of its concerns.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Accountor“We believe the government can support law enforcement without resorting to secret ministerial orders that put Canadians at risk,” a Google spokesperson said in an email, adding that the company would continue engaging on the issue.In a marathon session late Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals pushed through amendments to Bill C-22, known as the Lawful Access Act, in an effort to address heavy criticism from technology firms including Alphabet, Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc.Major changes to the bill include explicitly stating it will not require decryption of encrypted information — an industry concern — and reducing the metadata retention period to six months, instead of one year. Google had recommended that metadata not be kept at all.Apple, Meta and Google had slammed the legislation during consultations last month, citing privacy and security issues. And in a May interview with the Globe and Mail newspaper, encrypted messaging app Signal threatened to pull out of Canada if the law forced them to compromise user privacy.The amendments made Wednesday improve clarity and address feedback raised during the consultation process, a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said in a statement.Canadian VPN company Tailscale Inc. welcomed the changes, but said they didn’t go far enough. “C-22 can still pressure secure services to retain data they otherwise wouldn’t keep, and to build technical access systems they otherwise wouldn’t deploy,” Chief Executive Officer Avery Pennarun said in an email. “We oppose laws that make secure infrastructure harder to build.”Apple, Meta and Signal didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.Canada is the only Group of Seven country without legislation requiring electronic service providers to maintain and develop lawful access capabilities, Carney has said. The government previously rejected claims that the law would enable surveillance of Canadians through everyday devices.The bill has been fast-tracked for Senate review in the fall.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.