Canada has directed TikTok to shut down its Canadian offices, citing national security risks tied to its Chinese owner, ByteDance, according to Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
Canadians can still access the app, though TikTok plans to challenge the shutdown order in court.
The Context
Concerns about TikTok’s ties to China have sparked scrutiny globally, with several countries banning the video-sharing app altogether or limiting its use on government devices. Canada’s recent move to shut down TikTok’s offices in Toronto and Vancouver marks a more intense response, aligning with the broader trend of evaluating foreign tech investments for national security threats.
Meanwhile, TikTok faces a possible U.S. ban in January 2025 if it doesn’t divest from its parent company, ByteDance.
Is TikTok Banned in Canada?
No, TikTok is not banned in Canada. The Canadian government ordered TikTok’s offices in Toronto and Vancouver to close due to security concerns linked to ByteDance’s ownership.
The decision was made following certain intelligence that emerged following a national security review, the minister said.
“We came to the conclusion that these activities that were conducted in Canada by TikTok and their offices would be injurious to national security,” Champagne told CBC News.
“I’m not at liberty to go into much detail, but I know Canadians would understand when you’re saying the government of Canada is taking measures to protect national security, that’s serious,” he said.
This action, however, does not restrict Canadians from using or downloading the app.
Champagne said that Canadians can still choose to access TikTok but should be aware of potential risks. This approach appears to avoid a full ban of the platform while addressing security concerns through policy rather than restriction.
Newsweek reached out to Canada’s Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne via email for comment outside of normal working hours.
TikTok Reacts to Canada Shutdown
TikTok has criticized Canada’s decision, highlighting the impact on local jobs and suggesting the order is excessive. The company announced plans to contest the order legally, asserting that dismantling its operations could harm hundreds of jobs.
A TikTok spokesperson told Newsweek that “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.”
“We will challenge this order in court. The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive,” the spokesperson said.
TikTok has not made any immediate changes to its Canadian user access to the app, indicating it will continue to operate as usual while pursuing legal avenues.
Is TikTok Being Banned in the United States?
The U.S. is closer than ever to potentially banning TikTok outright. A recent law mandates that ByteDance must divest its American operations by January 19, 2025, or face a ban.
Lawmakers cite national security concerns, arguing ByteDance’s links to China could compromise user data and allow the Chinese government undue influence. The outcome of a federal court case may delay or ultimately decide TikTok’s fate, but for now, the app’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain.
In September, TikTok went to federal court to challenge the ban with ByteDance’s lawyer Andrew Pincus putting forward arguments around free speech and First Amendment rights.
He told the court at the time: “The notion that a foreign adversary is going to spread ideas about political issues and social issues, which is exactly what the government says in its brief, has never in our history been a basis for suppressing speech in this country, even of the foreign governments, let alone American speakers speaking on their own terms to other Americans.”
A lack of legal precedent adds to the uncertainty around the looming ban. “Nobody’s really sure how this one’s going to come out,” legal expert Abigail Rekas told Newsweek at the time.
Meanwhile, TikTok has been sued by 13 states and the District of Columbia in a joint lawsuit filed in October that accused the app of making its platform addictive to young people, impacting negatively upon youth mental health.
What Donald Trump Has Said About a TikTok Ban
President-elect Donald Trump, who previously advocated for banning TikTok in 2020, has recently softened his stance, suggesting he would support saving TikTok if reelected.
In a September campaign video, Trump said that “for all of those who want to save TikTok in America, vote for Trump.” This is in contrast with the executive order he attempted to pass in 2020 to ban the app, which was subsequently blocked by the courts.
During an October 15 interview with Bloomberg News, he initially said he “had it all done” in terms of putting through a ban on the app but that he ultimately left the decision to Congress. Trump referenced what he saw as the “real First Amendment problems” associated with banning the app.
His shift came after a March meeting with ByteDance investor Jeff Yass who has a $33 million stake in the short-form video app. While Trump hasn’t explicitly committed to lifting the ban, his stance contrasts with that of the Biden administration, which remains firm on limiting TikTok’s Chinese ownership. The app’s deadline for divestment from its parent company is a day before Trump is inaugurated for his second term in office.
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