Thank you for your email regarding the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC). CSEC operates within all Canadian laws, including the Privacy Act,

Thank you for your email regarding the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC). CSEC operates within all Canadian laws, including the Privacy Act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Criminal Code. CSEC is prohibited by law from directing its foreign intelligence activities at Canadians anywhere in the world or at any person in Canada. In addition, there are rigorous procedures in place to ensure that it adheres to this prohibition. The Ministerial Directive on Metadata clearly defines metadata and specifies that CSEC may only collect and use metadata in support of its foreign intelligence and cyber-protection mandate. For intelligence purposes, CSEC uses metadata to isolate and identify foreign communications and foreign targets. The Ministerial Directive also outlines strict conditions to protect the privacy of Canadians. Under the National Defence Act, CSEC is mandated to provide technical and operational assistance to law enforcement and security agencies in the performance of their lawful duties. All CSEC and law enforcement and security agencies’ activities are strictly bound by the limits of their lawful duties, including court warrants. Under such circumstances, CSEC activities are subject to review by an independent CSE Commissioner who is responsible for reviewing CSEC activities to ensure that all CSEC activities comply with the law and protect the privacy of Canadians. All information acquired under the warrant belongs to the assisted agency. CSEC does not target the communications of Canadians anywhere and has legislative measures in place to protect the privacy of Canadians. As the CSE Commissioner noted in his 2011-2012 report, the focus of CSEC activity is foreign intelligence. In this report, the CSE Commissioner highlights that all reviewed CSEC activities were authorized and carried out in accordance with the law. The Commissioner also highlights CSEC’s culture of lawful compliance and for protecting the privacy of Canadians.