As new technology is developed, law enforcement agencies, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), are faced with increasing challenges in gathering digital evidence. As such, these agencies must turn to more sophisticated technological investigative tools to access the information they seek to obtain in certain criminal investigations. On-device investigation tools are an example of such tools.

This report examines the benefits and risks of the use of on-device investigative tools and the use of such tools by the RCMP. It also examines legislative and non-legislative measures that could be considered to better regulate these types of tools in Canada.

Based on the evidence heard and the briefs received, the committee makes several recommendations to reassure Canadians that, when new technology is used by law enforcement agencies, Canadian laws take into account not only the challenges these agencies face in performing their duties, but also the right to privacy and the importance of maintaining, in a democratic society, the public’s confidence in the institutions charged with protecting them.