he Canadian government has ordered the shutdown of Chinese-owned TikTok business operations in the country, citing national security risks. The decision, announced on Wednesday, mandates the closure of TikTok’s offices in Toronto and Vancouver.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne clarified in a statement that while the government is not restricting Canadians’ access to the TikTok app itself, it advises caution in its use. “The government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the application or their ability to create content,” Champagne said. “The decision to use a social media app or platform is a personal choice.”
The shutdown targets specific national security concerns related to the operations of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance Ltd, through its Canadian entity, TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
TikTok has been under increasing scrutiny across North America and Europe due to security and data privacy issues surrounding the app.
