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Cyberspy agency breached law by directing actions at Canadian: watchdog report

On Jan. 21, 2026, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency found the Communications Security Establishment violated a law by analyzing a Canadian's device, ruling the work was not incidental.
CSIS sent details via lead information messages to Communications Security Establishment, highlighting tension as CSIS can collect on Canadians while CSE is barred from directing activities at them.
The watchdog said the incidental-collection exception did not apply because the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency found CSE deliberately analysed Canadian information; it recommended CSIS stop such requests and CSE tighten policies, which CSE agreed to by pledging updates for operational analysts.
The watchdog's full review was released to The Canadian Press on Tuesday and urged clear governance, role demarcation, and tighter information-sharing guardrails between CSE and CSIS.
CSIS responded that a full stop to requests would harm investigations, and the federal response said this would negatively impact Canada’s national security probes while disagreeing with the watchdog’s recommendation.

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Cyberspy agency breached the law by directing actions at Canadian ...

15 hours ago·Canada

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CSE breached law by directing actions at Canadian: report

The national intelligence watchdog says Canada’s cyberspy agency violated a law that forbids it from focusing on Canadians when it analyzed information from an electronic device.

20 hours ago·Canada

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