On Wednesday, the Canadian government ordered ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to wind down its operations in Canada due to national security concerns, though it refrained from implementing an outright ban on the app itself.
“This decision reflects the findings and evidence gathered through a comprehensive review, as well as input from Canada’s security and intelligence agencies and other governmental allies,” stated François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, in an official announcement.
While the government does not plan to restrict Canadians’ access to TikTok or hinder content creation, it emphasized that using social media platforms is a “personal choice.” TikTok has already been prohibited on government-issued devices in Canada since February 2023.
The Canadian government also encouraged citizens to practice strong cybersecurity habits and consider the potential risks associated with social media use—particularly regarding how personal data may be secured, used, and potentially accessed by foreign entities.
Officials clarified that the mandate for TikTok to shutter its Canadian business operations was issued under the Investment Canada Act, a law allowing the government to scrutinize foreign investments that might compromise national security.
In response, TikTok informed the Associated Press that closing its Canadian offices would result in the loss of hundreds of local jobs and signaled its intention to legally contest the directive.
TikTok, a ByteDance-owned platform based in China, has stirred similar concerns in the United States, where officials fear Beijing could use national security regulations to compel ByteDance to hand over American users’ data for intelligence purposes.
These apprehensions led the U.S. government to pass legislation mandating ByteDance divest from TikTok by January 19, 2025, or face a ban within the U.S. borders. TikTok has since filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. to prevent the enactment of this law.
Although TikTok has long asserted it does not share user data with the Chinese government, the app has faced a complete ban in countries such as Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Additionally, it is restricted on government-issued devices in various other nations worldwide.
