CSIS pledges ‘robust’ review of technologies in response to critical watchdog report

Canadian Security Intelligence Service director Daniel Rogers arrives to a meeting of the National Security Council on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, June 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA — The Canadian Security Intelligence Service says it’s committed to “ongoing review and improvement” of its use of new technologies following a critical spy watchdog report.

The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency said in a report made public this week that CSIS lacked “adequate policies and procedures” to manage a confidential technology for collecting information.

The review agency said the spy service mischaracterized a novel technical capability as an extension of existing know-how.

It also said CSIS used the technology prior to satisfying all regulatory requirements.

CSIS said today it accepts some of the review agency’s findings and recommendations, while it disagrees with some others.

The spy service said it also recognizes the need to “develop robust mechanisms” for the review of technology and management of the data it collects.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press