Criminal Code

Marginal note:Disclosure of information

• 193 (1) If a private communication has been intercepted by means of an electro-magnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device without the consent, express or implied, of the originator of that communication or of the person intended by the originator to receive it, every person commits an offence who, without the express consent of the originator of that communication or of the person intended to receive it, knowingly

  • (a) uses or discloses the private communication or any part of it or the substance, meaning or purpose of it or of any part of it, or

  • (b) discloses the existence of the private communication.

• Marginal note:Punishment

  (1.1) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of

  • (a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years; or

  • (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

• Marginal note:Exemptions

  (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who discloses a private communication or any part thereof or the substance, meaning or purport thereof or of any part thereof or who discloses the existence of a private communication

  • (a) in the course of or for the purpose of giving evidence in any civil or criminal proceedings or in any other proceedings in which the person may be required to give evidence on oath;

  • (b) in the course of or for the purpose of any criminal investigation if the private communication was lawfully intercepted;

  • (c) in giving notice under section 189 or furnishing further particulars pursuant to an order under section 190;

  • (d) in the course of the operation of

    • (i) a telephone, telegraph or other communication service to the public,

    • (ii) a department or an agency of the Government of Canada, or

    • (iii) services relating to the management or protection of a computer system, as defined in subsection 342.1(2),

    if the disclosure is necessarily incidental to an interception described in paragraph 184(2)(c), (d) or (e);

  • (e) where disclosure is made to a peace officer or prosecutor in Canada or to a person or authority with responsibility in a foreign state for the investigation or prosecution of offences and is intended to be in the interests of the administration of justice in Canada or elsewhere; or

  • (f) where the disclosure is made to the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or to an employee of the Service for the purpose of enabling the Service to perform its duties and functions under section 12 of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act.

• Marginal note:Publishing of prior lawful disclosure

  (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who discloses a private communication or any part thereof or the substance, meaning or purport thereof or of any part thereof or who discloses the existence of a private communication where that which is disclosed by him was, prior to the disclosure, lawfully disclosed in the course of or for the purpose of giving evidence in proceedings referred to in paragraph (2)(a).