Citing national security concerns, Canada ordered the shutdown of TikTok operations in the nation; nevertheless, the government did not restrict Canadians’ access to the short-video app or their capacity to produce material.
On Wednesday, Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement, “The government is taking action to address the specific national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd’s operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc”.
TikTok’s intention to develop and grow its business in Canada was first examined by Ottawa last year. The Chinese parent firm of TikTok is called ByteDance.
The government can evaluate any national security threats from foreign investments, like the TikTok proposal, in accordance with Canadian legislation. The government is prohibited by law from disclosing the specifics of these investments.
Champagne said, “The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners”.
TikTok said it will challenge the order in court.
Spokesperson of TikTok gave a statement, “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.”
Because it poses an intolerable risk to security and privacy, Canada has banned the TikTok app on government-issued devices.
In May, TikTok and ByteDance filed a lawsuit in a US federal court to overturn a legislation that President Joe Biden had signed.
Biden signed the measure on April 24. ByteDance has until January 19 to sell TikTok or risk being banned. For national security reasons, the White House has stated that it wants to see Chinese-based ownership terminated, but it has not called for a TikTok ban.
