The Canadian government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian operations following a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media app but said it will not block access.
TORONTO (AP) – Canada announced Wednesday it is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian operations following a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media app, but said it will not block access.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said it is intended to address risks related to ByteDance Ltd’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content. The decision to use an application or social media platform is a personal choice,” said Champagne.
Champagne said it is important for Canadians to adopt good cyber security practices, including protecting their personal information.
He said the dissolution decision was made pursuant to the Investment Canada Act, which allows for scrutiny of foreign investments that could harm Canada’s national security.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the closure of its Canadian office will mean the loss of hundreds of local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said. “The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
TikTok is wildly popular among young people, but its Chinese ownership has raised concerns that Beijing could use it to collect data on Western users or push pro-China narratives and disinformation. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020.
TikTok is facing increased scrutiny from Europe and America regarding security and data privacy. It comes as China and the West are locked in a wider tug of war over technology ranging from spy balloons to computer chips.
Canada previously banned TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices, reflecting growing concerns from Western officials about the video-sharing app.
