BRIEF: TikTok’s Canadian office shut down, app access to continue

Canada ordered the shutdown of TikTok’s operations within the country on Wednesday, citing national security risks, Reuters reported. However, it did not restrict the public from using the app or creating content on it.

The Canadian government said its decision was based on information and evidence uncovered during a national security review, as well as recommendations from the country’s security and intelligence community. The country’s Investment Canada Act gives authorities the power to review foreign investments that may pose a threat to national security. In February 2023, the Canadian government banned the use of TikTok on all government devices, and later that year it ordered a national security review of the app.

TikTok, one of the world’s most popular short video platforms, is owned by Chinese company ByteDance. While TikTok is now based in Singapore and Los Angeles, that geographic positioning has not eased Western concerns over security. A TikTok spokesperson said shutting down the company’s Canadian operation and eliminating hundreds of high-paying local jobs wasn’t in anyone’s best interest, and added the company intends to challenge the order in court.

By Lee Shih Ta

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