Police call for new law that would force you to reveal your computer passwords

By Staff The Canadian Press

Posted August 16, 2016 1:53 pm EST

Updated August 16, 2016 1:55 pm EST

1 min read

This article is more than 7 years old and some information may not be up to date.

Canada's police chiefs want a new law that would force people to hand over their computer passwords with a judge's consent. In this September 11, 2013, file photo, an Apple employee, right, instructs a journalist on the use of the fingerprint scanner technology built into the company's iPhone 5S during a media event in Beijing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ng Han Guan, File

OTTAWA – Canada’s police chiefs want a new law that would force people to hand over their computer passwords with a judge’s consent.

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The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has passed a resolution calling for the legal measure to unlock digital evidence, saying criminals increasingly use encryption to hide illicit activities.

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RCMP Assistant Commissioner Joe Oliver told a news conference today there is nothing currently in Canadian law that would compel someone to provide a password to police during an investigation.

Oliver says criminals — from child abusers to mobsters — are operating online in almost complete anonymity.

The police chiefs’ resolution comes as the federal government begins a consultation on cybersecurity, including the best ways to balance online freedoms with needs of police.

The consultation runs until Oct. 15.