Chapter 3: Lawful Access Challenges
Special Report on the Lawful Access to Communications by Security and Intelligence Organizations
Requests for Assistance from CSE
99. Another option for CSIS and the RCMP to respond to technological challenges is to seek help through a formal RFA from CSE, *** Footnote 223 ***
| Type of request for assistance (RFA) | Description |
|---|---|
| *** | *** |
100. Between 2012 and 2023, CSE completed *** RFAs for the two investigative agencies: *** for CSIS and *** for the RCMP (see Figures 3.2 and 3.3 below). Both CSE and RCMP attribute the *** fewer RFAs to the RCMP because of the risk of investigative techniques being subject to disclosure in court, as noted above, or because the RCMP opted not to move forward with CSE assistance after finding another solution. Footnote 225 That said, both CSE and RCMP have increasingly sought ways for CSE to support the RCMP in the “unclassified realm,” Footnote 226 such as RCMP leveraging CSE’s ***:
*** Footnote 227
*** Footnote 228
Figure 3.2: CSIS Requests for Assistance to CSE: Trends & Statistics Footnote 229
***
Figure 3.3: RCMP Requests for Assistance to CSE: Trends & Statistics Footnote 230
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