Canada Bans Flipper Zero Devices to Fight Car Theft
The Canadian government is planning to ban the sale of Flipper Zero and similar devices, believing they can be used to steal cars. “Criminals are using sophisticated tools to steal vehicles. Canadians are rightfully concerned,” wrote Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, on X. “Today, I am officially announcing that we are banning the import, sale, and use of consumer hacking devices like Flipper, which are used to commit these crimes.”
This announcement followed a national summit on combating car theft, organized by the Canadian government in Ottawa last week.
Car Theft Statistics in Canada
According to Canadian authorities, about 90,000 cars are stolen in Canada each year—roughly one car every six minutes. Losses from car thefts amount to $1 billion USD annually, including insurance costs for repairs and replacements. Additionally, Canadian police report that car thefts have significantly contributed to the rise in the national Crime Severity Index in 2022.
Government Actions and Statements
The Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED Canada) stated it will “use all available tools to ban devices like Flipper Zero, which are used to steal vehicles by copying wireless keyless entry signals, and will work with law enforcement to remove these devices from the Canadian market.”
Flipper Devices Responds
While Canadian authorities insist that Flipper Zero is a factor in the surge of car thefts, Flipper Devices, the company behind the device, claims it cannot be used to steal cars made in the last 24 years. “Flipper Zero cannot be used to steal any cars, especially those manufactured after the 1990s, as their security systems use rolling codes,” Flipper Devices COO Alex Kulagin told Bleeping Computer. “Also, intercepting the original signal would require actively jamming the owner’s signal, which Flipper Zero hardware cannot do. Flipper Zero is intended for testing and developing security systems, and we have taken necessary precautions to ensure the device cannot be used for criminal purposes.”
Previous Issues with Flipper Zero
This is not the first time Flipper Zero has faced such issues. Last year, Amazon banned the sale of Flipper Zero, labeling it a “card skimming device.” Brazilian authorities have also confiscated shipments of the “hacker Tamagotchi,” fearing the gadgets could be used by criminals.