Watchdog Finds Problems with Spy Service’s Use of Legal Authority to Commit Offences
The review found some CSIS employees may have committed offences without required designation and authorization, raising concerns about legal guardrails.
- The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency reported that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service may have failed to comply with the law while using special powers during operations in 2022 and 2023.
- Under The CSIS Act, designated employees may commit certain offences when collecting information, provided they follow strict legal requirements intended to ensure operations remain lawful.
- Investigators found some employees may have committed offences without proper designation, while others potentially received direction to perform acts without required legal authorization.
- The watchdog stressed that CSIS maintains a duty to ensure all operations respect the law, especially when activities involve conduct that would otherwise be considered illegal.
- On Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, The Canadian Press published this report detailing the findings regarding CSIS activity and the agency's adherence to established legal limitations during recent operations.
24 Articles
24 Articles
The Toronto Star
Watchdog finds problems with spy service’s use of legal authority to commit offences
OTTAWA - The national spy watchdog says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service may not have complied with the law when using special powers to gather information.
Winnipeg Free Press
Watchdog finds problems with spy service's use of legal authority to commit offences
OTTAWA - The national spy watchdog says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service may not have complied with the law when using special powers to gather information.
CSIS can break the law. They need to document it better, watchdog warns
Canada’s spy agency needs more oversight into operations that include illegal activities in order to gain intelligence, a new watchdog report suggests. The Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) is authorized in certain circumstances to take actions that would ordinarily break Canadian law in its pursuit of information about national security threats. But while the [...]
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