The Criminal Code
Under the "Criminal Code", "lawful access" provisions for the interception of communications by law enforcement was first adopted in 1974. The Criminal Code was amended in the 1980s and again in the 1990s to allow law enforcement the ability to search and seize computer systems. In 1984 the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act was passed by Parliament giving law enforcement the right to lawfully intercept private communication in defence of national security. Supporters of Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act and other "lawful access" legislation, being proposed to date, believe the passage of these bills will amend current provision for "lawful access" in existing legislation like the Criminal Code and Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act and support law enforcement to lawfully access transmission data from new technologies such as smartphones.