Canada has ordered TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to shut down its offices in the country due to national security concerns, but the app will remain available for Canadians to use. The government’s decision, made based on advice from the country’s security and intelligence community, targets potential risks stemming from ByteDance’s operations. Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that the closure of TikTok’s offices was necessary to address the specific security threats posed by the company, but clarified that Canadians could still access the app and create content.
The shutdown order affects TikTok’s operations in Toronto and Vancouver, where staff were involved in selling advertising and managing app-related tasks. TikTok has vowed to challenge the decision in court, arguing that the closure would harm hundreds of local jobs and create unnecessary disruption. Despite the office closures, TikTok will continue to be popular among Canadians, with the app being downloaded approximately 700,000 times per month.
This move follows Canada’s previous ban of TikTok on government-issued devices, joining a growing number of countries scrutinizing the app over data privacy, national security, and misinformation concerns. Similar actions have been taken by the U.S., Britain, Australia, France, and other countries. In the U.S., lawmakers are pushing for a ban, citing fears that TikTok could be used to collect sensitive data or spread propaganda on behalf of the Chinese government.
The Canadian government’s review of TikTok’s operations aligns with national security laws that allow scrutiny of foreign investments. While the shutdown will limit TikTok’s operations in Canada, experts like Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, warn that the company may be harder to hold accountable without a direct ban on the app.
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