VPN Provider Psiphon Threatens Canadian Exit Over Bill C-22
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A software company serving millions under oppressive regimes says proposed surveillance laws would force it to compromise user safety.
Psiphon, a Toronto-based software company that helps users in countries including Russia, China, Myanmar, and Iran evade online censorship, plans to move its operations out of Canada if Bill C-22 passes in its current form, as first reported by The Globe and Mail.
Originally a 2006 project from the Citizen Lab, Psiphon now serves 20 million monthly users worldwide. The company states that the proposed legislation would force it to compromise safety features essential for protecting user privacy.
Bill C-22, also known as the Lawful Access Act, would mandate that electronic service providers implement secret system changes to grant monitoring and surveillance capabilities to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and police services.
Ron Deibert, the founder and director of Citizen Lab, asserts that the bill will make it impossible for many critical privacy-preserving applications and tools to operate within Canada. In a June 2, 2026, analysis of the bill, Citizen Lab highlighted several risks, including dangers to Canada's cybersecurity, threats to encryption, and significant human rights and constitutional concerns, while noting a lack of transparency and accountability.