Psiphon VPN Provider Threatens to Leave Canada Over Lawful-Access Bill C-22

Psiphon's Stance on Bill C-22

Psiphon, a software company originating from the Citizen Lab, has announced its intention to leave Canada if the federal government's lawful-access Bill C-22 is enacted without changes. The company, which provides tools for evading online censorship, argues that the bill would necessitate modifications to its systems that compromise user privacy and security.

Implications of Bill C-22

Bill C-22, if passed, would require electronic service providers to implement secret changes to their systems. These changes would enable surveillance and monitoring capabilities for Canadian police services and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Psiphon states that complying with such requirements would directly conflict with its mission to protect user privacy.

Psiphon's Global User Base

Psiphon, which became a private company after its inception as a Citizen Lab project in 2006, serves 20 million monthly users worldwide. These users rely on Psiphon's software to bypass online censorship in countries including Iran, Myanmar, Russia, and China. The company's departure from Canada would be a direct response to the perceived threat to its operational integrity and user trust.

Broader Impact on Privacy Tools

Ron Deibert, director and founder of Citizen Lab, commented that Bill C-22 would make it impossible for many privacy-preserving tools and applications to operate within Canada. This suggests that Psiphon's potential exit is part of a larger concern within the privacy and digital rights community regarding the bill's impact on internet freedom and user data protection in Canada.