Canada Orders Shutdown of TikTok's Canadian Business, App Access to Continue
Canada orders shutdown of TikTok's Canadian business due to national-security risks. Canadians will still have access to the TikTok app and can continue creating content. TikTok plans to challenge the shutdown order in court.
However, the government has clarified that Canadians will still have access to the popular short-video app and can continue creating content without any interruptions.
Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne stated, "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."
The Canadian government had initiated a review last year regarding TikTok's investment and expansion plans in the country, as ByteDance is the parent company of TikTok. Canadian law allows the government to evaluate potential national security risks associated with foreign investments, such as the case with TikTok.
Champagne mentioned, "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 has expressed its intention to challenge the shutdown order in court, with a spokesperson stating, "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."
It is worth noting that Canada has already prohibited the use of the TikTok app on government-issued devices, citing concerns about privacy and security risks associated with the platform.
In a related legal battle, TikTok and ByteDance filed a lawsuit in a U.S. federal court in May to block a law signed by President Joe Biden. The law, signed in April, requires ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19 or face a potential ban. The White House has expressed the desire to eliminate Chinese-based ownership of TikTok on national-security grounds, rather than imposing a complete ban on the app.
Canada orders shutdown of TikTok's Canadian business due to national-security risks.
Canadians will still have access to the TikTok app and can continue creating content.
TikTok plans to challenge the shutdown order in court.
Source: REUTERS