As the way we communicate has changed, so too have our investigative methods. Our agencies need modern tools to effectively gather digital evidence and intelligence.
The spread of strong encryption both at the device and application level creates challenges for agencies when attempting to collect information that they have been judicially authorized to collect.
At the same time, encryption is the backbone of our modern digital lives. It facilitates private communications and secure online business, which is critical to our economy.
In order to ensure our agencies can maintain access to digital evidence and intelligence without creating systemic weaknesses in encryption, new tools are always being developed. This includes the RCMP’s use of on-device investigative techniques.
The use of these tools is judicially authorized. Furthermore, national security activities are subject to further review by the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency and the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.