Cybercrime Law in Canada

Canada prosecutes computer crime under its federal Criminal Code, with privacy governed separately.

Key laws

  • Criminal Code, s 342.1 — unauthorized use of a computer.
  • Criminal Code, s 430(1.1) — mischief in relation to computer data.
  • Criminal Code, s 184 — interception of private communications.
  • PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) — private-sector privacy and breach reporting.

Enforcement

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security handle investigation and national cyber defence respectively.


Plain-language overview, not legal advice. Laws change — verify the current Criminal Code and privacy statutes for any specific question.