Trudeau government bans TikTok from operating in Canada — but Canadians can still use it
The federal government has made the decision to order TikTok to shut down its Canadian operations due to national security concerns. Despite this, users will still be able to access the popular video app. Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne cited information and evidence that surfaced during a national security review as the basis for this decision. The advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community also played a role in the government’s choice to wind down TikTok’s offices in Toronto and Vancouver.
Champagne emphasized that the activities conducted by TikTok in Canada were deemed injurious to national security. While the government is not blocking Canadians from using the app, it is urging users to be cautious and use TikTok with awareness of potential risks. The decision was made in accordance with the Investment Canada Act, which allows for the review of foreign investments that may harm Canada’s national security.
A spokesperson for TikTok expressed plans to take legal action against the government’s decision to shut down their Canadian offices. The company believes that this move will result in the loss of hundreds of local jobs and is not in the best interest of anyone involved.
The concerns surrounding TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance, a company with alleged ties to the Chinese government, have been flagged by U.S. lawmakers. There are fears that Chinese national security laws could provide the government with access to data from TikTok users in the U.S. and beyond. Additionally, ByteDance has been accused of aiding in the crackdown on the Uyghur minority in China and targeting protesters in Hong Kong.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has warned against the use of TikTok, citing concerns about data privacy and potential access to user information by the Chinese government. Former CSIS director David Vigneault has advised against using the app, highlighting the long-term implications of data sharing on a platform like TikTok.
In February 2023, the Canadian government banned TikTok from all government devices and later initiated a national security review of the app. The decision to shut down TikTok’s Canadian offices was the result of this review, which involved rigorous scrutiny by Canada’s national security and intelligence community.
TikTok has maintained that its servers are located outside of China and are not under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. The company asserts that it follows Canadian data protection and privacy laws to ensure the security of user data.
