Canada orders TikTok’s business shut down over security concerns

The Canadian government has ordered TikTok’s Canadian business to shut down, citing national security concerns over the app’s Chinese ownership. The decision, announced Wednesday, affects the operations of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, but does not block Canadians from accessing the app or creating content on it. According to Canadian Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, the shutdown aims to address specific security risks posed by ByteDance’s activities in Canada.

This action comes after Canada’s year-long review of TikTok’s investment plans in the country. Canadian law allows the government to scrutinise foreign investments for potential risks, though details of these assessments are confidential. In response, TikTok has announced plans to contest the order in court, citing concerns about job losses for local employees impacted by the decision.

While Canada has already banned TikTok on government-issued devices, the shutdown of ByteDance’s Canadian operations reflects mounting pressure on TikTok in North America. The United States has set a January deadline for ByteDance to divest its US TikTok assets or face a ban. Both countries point to national security risks associated with TikTok’s ownership and data practices as key reasons for these measures