Canada TikTok unit requests court review of shutdown orders

TikTok‘s Canadian branch has filed an emergency motion with the country’s Federal Court to review a government order requiring it to cease operations due to national security concerns. The company, owned by China’s ByteDance, is challenging the December 5 order and seeking either its annulment or a return to the government for further review. The motion argues that shutting down TikTok’s Canadian operations could result in significant job losses.

The legal challenge comes after Canada began investigating TikTok’s plans to expand its business in the country last year. The investigation led to last month’s order, which did not block Canadian access to the app but mandated the company’s exit from the Canadian market. TikTok emphasised the importance of maintaining a local presence for its platform in Canada, where it has over 14 million monthly users.

Under Canadian law, the government can assess foreign investments’ risks to national security, though details of the investigations are kept confidential. The case follows similar actions in the US, where the government has pressured ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US assets by January 2025 or face a ban. TikTok is currently seeking a temporary block on this US law as well.