The Canadian government has ordered TikTok to shut down its operations in the country over national security concerns, though distribution and use of the social media app will not be banned. The news comes amid speculation that Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election could result in the pending US ban of TikTok being scrapped.
Canada’s Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne told CBC News that the decision to force the closure of TikTok’s two Canadian offices, in Toronto and Vancouver, was made based on “information and evidence that surfaced during a national security review” and had been instigated at “the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community”.
The minister didn’t provide much information about what had been uncovered in the review, saying “I'm not at liberty to go into much detail”, but added, “We came to the conclusion that these activities that were conducted in Canada by TikTok and their offices would be injurious to national security”.
Despite the lack of detail, Champagne added, “I know Canadians would understand when you’re saying the government of Canada is taking measures to protect national security, that’s serious”.
Despite those concerns, the government will not stop Canadians from using TikTok if they want to, that being a “personal choice”, says Champagne. But, he insisted, people should be aware of the risks associated with the app and use it “with eyes wide open”.
Unsurprisingly, TikTok is not impressed with Canada’s decision, which it says it will fight in the courts. “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”, a spokesperson added.
Lawmakers in multiple countries have raised concerns about TikTok and its China-based owner Bytedance. It’s alleged that the Chinese government could have access to TikTok user data via Bytedance, something that TikTok has repeatedly denied.
Those concerns have led to multiple countries banning government employees from using TikTok on official devices. Wider bans have also been considered or implemented in some places.
Earlier this year, US Congress passed a TikTok-targeting sell-or-be-banned law, ordering Bytedance to sell TikTok by January next year otherwise distribution of the app will be banned within the country.
However, with Donald Trump now confirmed as the next President, many people think that the proposed ban may well be scrapped, allowing TikTok to continue to operate in the US. Despite having tried to instigate his own TikTok ban during his first stint as President, Trump repeatedly vowed during the presidential campaign that he would “save TikTok” and reverse the sell-or-be-banned law.
TikTok is currently fighting that law through the US courts. Following Trump’s win in this week’s US election, its legal team is now presumably considering if and how the ban could be blocked by the new President when he takes office next year.