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ARTICLE · 07 JULY 2017

Searches Of Electronic Devices At The Canada/US Border

McCarthy Tétrault
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The possibility of arbitrary searches of the electronic devices of persons crossing into the US continues to raise concerns among Canadians and, in particular, privacy regulators.

CanadaPrivacy
CyberLex Blog
CyberLex Blog
Kirsten Thompson
Kirsten Thompson
Eva Guo
Eva Guo
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The possibility of arbitrary searches of the electronic devices of persons crossing into the US continues to raise concerns among Canadians and, in particular, privacy regulators. Recent statements (and subsequent legislative amendments) are attempting to address some of the legal issues.

On June 8, 2017, Daniel Therrien, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, sent a follow up letter to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security to provide additional input for the Committee's review of Bill C-23, An Act respecting the preclearance of persons and goods in Canada and the United States ("Bill C-23").

Mr. Therrien's first letter of May 24, 2017 expressed his concerns about the US intention to conduct indiscriminate searches of electronic devices at the border:

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