A total of 33,373 travellers had their smartphones, tablets, and laptops searched by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), according to Blacklock’s Reporter. .“Information is only available starting from Nov. 1, 2017, which is when the agency started collecting data on digital device examinations,” said the CBSA in a ministry inquiry tabled in the House of Commons. .Searches peaked prior to a successful legal challenge striking down random searches as unconstitutional. .Cabinet said there were 33,373 searches from 2017 to 2021. Border agents under the Customs Act treated cellphones and other devices as ordinary goods subject to random searches. .Travellers were told to surrender passwords under threat of having devices confiscated. Searches peaked at 14,313 per year in 2018 as successful legal challenges were filed against the practice. .The Alberta Court of Appeal said random searches breached of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 2020. .“Devices now contain vast amounts of data touching on financial and medical details, the personal likes and propensities of users and their geographic movements over time,” said the Alberta Court of Appeal. .Judges noted police could not intercept mail in transit under the Canada Post Corporation Act, and the CBSA is forbidden from examining ordinary items under 30g. The number of yearly searches declined to a low of 1,794 in 2021..The disclosure of 33,373 cellphone searches is the highest number divulged to date..Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino lost a key vote on a cellphone search bill in June. .READ MORE: Mendicino's cellphone search bill shot down.Nine of 12 members of the Senate National Security Committee rejected his proposal to designate “reasonable general concern” as justification to search electronic devices at border crossings..“We did not have one witness except the Minister and the officials say this was a good idea,” said Independent Senators Group Senator Mobina Jaffer.
