On August 12, 2020, Equibit Group Ltd. took formal legal action against the Government of Canada by filing and serving its Statement of Claim upon the Attorney General.
This document marked the beginning of a long and difficult effort to hold Canada’s intelligence agencies accountable for what we allege was a sustained campaign of unlawful surveillance, technical sabotage, and interference targeting a legitimate Canadian technology company.
The Claim
The Statement of Claim outlines serious allegations against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and other agents of the Crown, including:
- Unlawful surveillance and targeting of Chris Horlacher and Equibit Group Ltd.
- Use of human intelligence assets within the company
- Technical attacks designed to destabilize and destroy the business
- Coordination with private actors to achieve objectives that could not be lawfully pursued through official channels
Read the full Statement of Claim here:
Context and Significance
This claim was not filed lightly. It came after years of documented technical attacks, regulatory pressure, insider betrayal, and financial warfare that ultimately led to the collapse of Equibit Group — a company that had received federal research funding and was developing legitimate blockchain infrastructure for the securities industry.
The filing represented Equibit’s formal demand for transparency and accountability under the rule of law. It challenged whether Canada’s intelligence agencies could operate with impunity against Canadian citizens and innovators who had committed no crime.
What Happened Next
As detailed throughout this site, the government’s response (or lack thereof) has been telling. CSIS has been in default for extended periods, and the proceedings have been marked by unusual delays and procedural obstacles.
The public evidence archive at equibitlawsuit.com was created precisely because of these challenges — to ensure that the full record cannot be buried or memory-holed.
The Broader Question
The Equibit case raises fundamental questions that go far beyond one company:
- Can state agencies target and dismantle private Canadian enterprises without due process?
- Is “national security” being used as a shield to protect unlawful conduct?
- Does the rule of law still apply when powerful institutions are challenged?
The Statement of Claim against CSIS was the legal starting point. The public documentation campaign is the transparency component. Together, they form part of a larger effort to expose what happened and demand accountability.
The fight begins.
