Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Should border officers be able to search your phone without a warrant?
In this interview, John Carpay of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms walks through recent Canadian legislation (Bills C-8, C-22, and C-34) and existing border powers that significantly expand government access to Canadians’ digital lives.
Key concerns raised:
Requirements that could force companies like Signal to build searchable systems or leave Canada
“Protect the kids” social media age bans that logically lead to identity and biometric verification for everyone
The gradual normalization of surveillance through small, successive steps
Carpay also notes that the Supreme Court has been relatively strong on privacy in some recent rulings — creating potential openings for court challenges.
Should border officers be able to search your phone without a warrant?
In this interview, John Carpay of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms walks through recent Canadian legislation (Bills C-8, C-22, and C-34) and existing border powers that significantly expand government access to Canadians’ digital lives.
Key concerns raised:
Requirements that could force companies like Signal to build searchable systems or leave Canada
“Protect the kids” social media age bans that logically lead to identity and biometric verification for everyone
The gradual normalization of surveillance through small, successive steps
Carpay also notes that the Supreme Court has been relatively strong on privacy in some recent rulings — creating potential openings for court challenges.
