Cyberspies defend proposed new authority to go on the offensive
OTTAWA — A senior official from Canada’s cyberspy agency says proposed new powers would allow it to stop a terrorist’s mobile phone from detonating a car bomb, block the ability of extremists to communicate, or prevent a foreign power from interfering in the country’s democratic process.
A Liberal bill would help the Communications Security Establishment counter various forms of cyberaggression and violent extremism, Shelly Bruce, associate chief of the CSE, told a House of Commons committee studying the legislation.
A December report by leading Canadian cybersecurity researchers said there is no clear rationale for expanding the CSE’s mandate to conduct offensive operations.
It said the scope of the planned authority is not clear, nor does the legislation require that the target of the CSE’s intervention pose some kind of meaningful threat to Canada’s security interests.