Why was the Flipper Zero banned?

Earlier this month, the federal government announced that the device would be banned as part of its effort to combat auto theft.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), a government department aimed at fostering a competitive, innovative, and knowledge-based economy, said it will “pursue all avenues to ban devices used to steal vehicles by copying the wireless signals for remote keyless entry, such as the Flipper Zero, which would allow for the removal of those devices from the Canadian marketplace through collaboration with law enforcement agencies.”

The announcement comes just days after politicians, auto industry executives and police forces from across Canada gathered for a national summit to address the auto theft crisis.

Insurance industry group Équité Association, and other groups, have long called on Transport Canada to update Canada’s federal Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations which were last updated in 2007, before the era of keyless and remote start technologies.