Canadian government orders TikTok to close offices over security concerns

By Skye Jacobs November 7, 2024

THE BIG PICTURE: Countries around the world are having to weigh the popularity of TikTok against national security concerns. The Canadian decision to shut down the company’s operations may set a precedent for how other nations approach foreign-owned social media firms.

The Canadian government has ordered TikTok to shut down its operations in Canada due to national security concerns. This decision comes after a thorough national security review by Canadian authorities.

Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the decision to wind down TikTok’s Canadian offices was based on information gathered during the security review. The decision was also informed by advice from Canada’s security and intelligence community. “We came to the conclusion that these activities that were conducted in Canada by TikTok and their offices would be injurious to national security,” he said.

Despite the order to cease operations, the Canadian government is not blocking citizens from accessing or using the app. However, Minister Champagne urged users to exercise caution, advising them to use the app “with eyes wide open” and be mindful of potential risks.

Other countries have made or are in the process of taking similar steps with the popular video-sharing app, most notably the US, where lawmakers have raised concerns about TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, and its potential ties to the Chinese government. Critics argue that ByteDance could be compelled to share user data with Chinese authorities under national security laws.
TikTok has consistently maintained that its servers are located outside of China and beyond the control of the Chinese Communist Party and that it follows local data protection and privacy laws.

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This article first appeared at TECHSPOT on Nov 7, 2024.