Federal intelligence watchdog raises privacy concerns over military monitoring of Canadians online

OTTAWA — Canada’s national intelligence watchdog has raised serious concerns about privacy protections and oversight procedures governing the military’s collection of publicly available information about Canadians on the internet.

In a recently released review, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) concluded that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces possess the legal authority to conduct open-source intelligence activities, but identified significant shortcomings in documentation, accountability and privacy safeguards.

The watchdog found that military intelligence officials do not consistently document how online information-gathering activities relate to authorized defence operations or intelligence requirements.

The review also identified weaknesses in risk assessments and oversight procedures, including the failure to evaluate 15 third-party providers specializing in the collection of information about individuals.

NSIRA emphasized that information available on public websites and social media platforms can still raise legitimate privacy concerns when systematically collected, stored and analyzed by government institutions.

The agency also found that existing record-keeping procedures do not adequately demonstrate whether intelligence collection involving Canadians is necessary or proportionate to legitimate defence objectives.

The watchdog issued five recommendations aimed at strengthening governance, improving documentation, updating risk assessments and ensuring greater accountability in the military’s online intelligence operations.

The findings underscore the growing challenges facing Canadian security institutions as digital surveillance technologies expand and the distinction between publicly accessible information and personal privacy becomes increasingly complex.

Although NSIRA did not conclude that the military’s online intelligence activities were inherently unlawful, its report highlights the need for stronger safeguards to ensure that national security operations remain consistent with Canadians’ privacy rights and established legal requirements.