Criminal Code Amended To Permit Unauthorized, Warrantless Interceptions Of Private Communications

In Canada, it is a criminal offence to intercept private communications without either (i) the consent of one of the participants to the communication or (ii) prior judicial authorization of the interception – with one exception.

Section 184.4 of the Canada Criminal Code permits a police officer to intercept a private communication, without consent and without judicial authorization, if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that:

1. the interception is immediately necessary to prevent an offence that would cause serious harm to any person or to property; b) one of the parties...