In a move that highlights growing global concerns over TikTok’s handling of user data, the Canadian government has ordered the company to cease its operations in the country by the end of 2024. This decision, announced on November 7, comes after a year-long review of the app’s operations in Canada and is driven by national security concerns related to TikTok’s Chinese ownership.
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The order requires ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to shut down its Canadian business activities by the close of next year. However, Canadians will still be able to use the app, a decision that aims to balance national security risks with minimizing disruption for the millions of Canadians who rely on the platform.
Canada’s innovation minister, François-Philippe Champagne, clarified that while the government is not blocking access to TikTok, it is acting on the advice of national security agencies regarding the potential risks tied to ByteDance’s operations in Canada. “The decision was based on the information and evidence gathered during the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he stated. Champagne also urged Canadians to be mindful of cybersecurity risks when using social media, advising them to consider how their personal data is managed, used, and shared by foreign entities. He encouraged citizens to seek guidance from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to better understand these risks. While the government is not restricting access to TikTok, Champagne emphasized that using the platform is a personal decision. “The government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content,” he said, reaffirming that the choice to use the app remains in the hands of individuals.
