Federal government orders TikTok to cease business in Canada

 

The federal government has ordered social media platform TikTok to cease business in Canada following a national security review. But the government said it will allow people to continue using the popular social media application. The order was issued by Innovation and Science Minister François-Philippe Champagne after a lengthy review of security concerns about TikTok and its Chinese owner ByteDance. The minister clarified that the decision was based on the information and evidence gathered during the review. The minister added that the government will not block Canadians' access to, or content creation of, TikTok.

The government has not specified when TikTok will end business in Canada. TikTok has multiple offices in Toronto and Vancouver. But the activity is smaller in Canada than in the United States. The government pointed out that although the activity is small, it is a threat to national security. Meanwhile, a TikTok spokesperson told the media that the company will challenge the Canadian government's order in court.