Canada Bans TikTok Operations, Citing National Security Concerns
The Canadian government has ordered the cessation of operations for TikTok Technology Canada, Inc., a company affiliated with China-based ByteDance Ltd., within the country. This decision follows multiple inspections by intelligence and security agencies, with the government stating that the move is essential to safeguard national security.
The government does not restrict Canadians’ access to the TikTok app or their ability to create content on it. Users are reminded that the choice of social network or platform for personal use is theirs to make. It is particularly important, however, to understand how and where personal data is processed and which laws affect it. To this end, users are encouraged to review guidance provided by the Canadian Cyber Security Centre.
This decision is taken under the Investment Canada Act, which permits the review of foreign investments for potential threats to national security. Additional scrutiny is applied to sectors included in the March 2024 list, such as interactive digital media.
In response to Canada’s decision, TikTok stated that closing TikTok’s Canadian offices and eliminating hundreds of well-paying jobs “does not serve the interests of either party,” yet this is the outcome the government’s directive will lead to. The platform intends to challenge Canada’s decision in court.
In early March, a group of U.S. congress members introduced a bill aimed at compelling the Chinese tech giant ByteDance (owner of TikTok) to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner within six months; otherwise, the app would be banned in the United States.
China’s authorities responded by criticizing Washington for its pressure on TikTok. The Chinese government conveyed to ByteDance in Beijing that it would prefer to see the app banned in the U.S. rather than sold to American ownership. Concurrently, reports emerged that TikTok may be preparing a lawsuit against the U.S. to defend the app’s continued presence.
In July, the U.S. Department of Justice also leveled charges against TikTok, claiming that the app had transmitted American users’ personal information to China and allowed profiling based on sensitive topics.
