TL;DR
- Canada has ordered TikTok to shut down its Canadian business, citing national security risks.
- TikTok will challenge the order in court, as it would lead to the closure of offices and job losses.
- The decision follows a year-long review and aligns with similar actions taken by other countries.
- Canadians can still use TikTok, but the government urges caution regarding data security.
On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, the Canadian government ordered TikTok, the popular video-sharing app owned by China’s ByteDance, to close its Canadian business operations following a national security review. Despite this directive, the app will remain accessible to Canadian users, allowing them to continue creating and sharing content. The decision marks a significant step in Canada’s ongoing scrutiny of foreign investments that may pose risks to national security.
The closure order specifically targets TikTok Technology Canada Inc., the company’s Canadian subsidiary, which operates offices in Toronto and Vancouver. The shutdown will result in the loss of hundreds of local jobs. In response, TikTok announced its intention to challenge the decision in court. A spokesperson for the company stated, “Shutting down TikTok’s Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not in anyone’s best interest, and today’s shutdown order will do just that.”
The move follows a year-long review under Canada’s Investment Canada Act, which allows authorities to assess foreign investments that could harm national security. François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, explained that the decision was based on evidence gathered during the review and advice from Canada’s security and intelligence community. However, specific details regarding the security risks posed by ByteDance have not been disclosed publicly.
While TikTok remains highly popular among Canadians—particularly younger users—the app has faced increasing scrutiny over concerns that its Chinese ownership could lead to data being shared with Beijing or used for misinformation campaigns. ByteDance has consistently denied these allegations, stating it has never shared user data with the Chinese government and would refuse if asked.
Canada’s decision aligns with similar actions taken by other countries. Earlier this year, Canada banned TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices due to privacy and security concerns. Globally, nations such as the United States, Australia, and several European countries have imposed restrictions on TikTok on official devices or are considering broader measures against the platform.
In the United States, ByteDance faces a looming deadline to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations by January 2025 or face a potential ban. The U.S. government has expressed concerns that Chinese law could compel ByteDance to share data from American users with Chinese authorities. These fears have led to bipartisan efforts in Congress to limit Chinese ownership of technology companies operating in sensitive sectors.
Despite these challenges, TikTok continues to be one of the most downloaded apps worldwide and remains a dominant platform for creators and businesses alike. In Canada alone, it is estimated that around 15 million people use TikTok regularly—representing about 41% of the population.
While Canadians can still access and use TikTok for personal or business purposes, Champagne urged citizens to adopt strong cybersecurity practices when using social media platforms. He emphasized that “the decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice,” but warned users to be mindful of how their data might be managed or shared by foreign entities.
This latest development underscores growing tensions between Western governments and China over technology-related national security concerns. As countries grapple with how best to regulate foreign-owned digital platforms like TikTok, it remains unclear how these restrictions will evolve in the coming years.
For now, while TikTok remains available for Canadian users, its future business operations in the country face an uncertain path as legal battles loom over the government’s shutdown order.
