Canada’s government has mandated TikTok to end its business operations in the country, though users will still be able to access the app.
The Canadian government has mandated the closure of TikTok’s operations within the country, citing concerns related to national security. Nevertheless, users in Canada will continue to have access to the application.
“The government is taking measures to mitigate the specific national security concerns associated with ByteDance Ltd’s activities in Canada by establishing TikTok Technology Canada Inc,” stated Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne in a Wednesday announcement (as reported by Reuters).
This order for dissolution follows a national security assessment of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, which had proposed an expansion of its operations in Canada last year. “The decision was informed by the data and evidence gathered during the review, as well as the counsel of Canada’s security and intelligence agencies and other governmental partners,” Champagne further explained. In response, TikTok released a statement on Wednesday indicating its intention to contest the order in court.
“Closing TikTok’s Canadian offices and eliminating hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not beneficial for anyone, and today’s order will result in just that,” the statement asserts. “We will contest this order legally. The TikTok platform will remain accessible for creators to engage with their audience, discover new interests, and for businesses to prosper.”
In 2023, Canada prohibited the use of TikTok on devices issued by the government, citing that the application poses an intolerable risk to privacy and security.
The video-sharing platform has encountered comparable examination from the U.S. government. In May, TikTok initiated a federal lawsuit aimed at challenging the U.S. legislation that would compel ByteDance to divest the app or confront a nationwide prohibition.
