Canada Orders Shutdown of TikTok Offices, Cites National Security Risk

Photo : AP

On Wednesday, Canada ordered the shutdown of TikTok's operations in the country, citing national security concerns. However, the Canadian government clarified that this decision would not block Canadians' access to the short-video app or prevent them from creating content.

Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne explained that the government's move was a response to specific national security risks posed by ByteDance Ltd, the Chinese parent company of TikTok. Champagne's statement noted that the action was in line with Canada’s assessment of foreign investments that may impact national security.

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The decision comes after a year-long review of TikTok’s plans to expand and invest further in Canada. As part of this review, the Canadian government took into consideration information provided by national security and intelligence agencies, along with advice from other government bodies. Champagne emphasized that the details of the review, particularly around ByteDance’s operations in Canada, could not be disclosed under Canadian law.

In response to the order, TikTok expressed its intention to challenge the decision in court. A spokesperson for the company criticized the move, arguing that shutting down its Canadian offices would result in the loss of hundreds of local jobs and was not in the best interest of either TikTok or Canada.

The Canadian government had already imposed a ban on the TikTok app on government-issued devices, citing privacy and security concerns. This move is part of a broader trend, as several countries have raised similar concerns about the app's ties to China.

Meanwhile, in the United States, TikTok and ByteDance filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, seeking to block a law that mandates ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19, 2024, or face a potential ban. President Joe Biden’s administration has expressed concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership, prioritizing national security, but has stopped short of calling for a complete ban on the app.