Canadian government on Wednesday ordered the shutdown of TikTok’s operations within the country, citing national security concerns tied to the app’s Chinese ownership.
Despite this shutdown order, Canadian users will retain access to the platform for the foreseeable future.
Canada’s Innovation Minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne, addressed the decision on Wednesday, explaining the government’s approach to limiting security threats associated with ByteDance Ltd., TikTok’s parent company, by setting up a separate entity called TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The government is taking action to address the specific national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd’s operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc,” Champagne stated, as reported by Reuters.
This order follows a comprehensive national security assessment of ByteDance.
In 2023, the Chinese tech giant had submitted a proposal to expand its business footprint in Canada, but the review ultimately led to this dissolution directive.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” Champagne further clarified.
In response, TikTok released a statement on Wednesday defending its presence in Canada. The company plans to contest the decision through legal avenues, pointing out that closing Canadian offices would result in a loss of high-quality jobs.
“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 statement reads. “We will challenge this order in court. The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
Canada’s scrutiny of TikTok began in earnest in 2023, with the government banning the app on all government-issued devices amid privacy and security concerns, marking a turning point in Canada’s relationship with the social media giant.
This latest move aligns with a wave of similar actions worldwide. In the U.S., for example, TikTok has faced mounting pressure; in May, the company filed a federal lawsuit aimed at blocking a proposed law that would compel ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations to avoid a total ban on the app across the country.
