According to TechCrunch, Canada has ordered the closure of TikTok’s operations and offices in the country due to claims of “national security risks.”
Despite this, the public’s use of TikTok is set to be unaffected. Users can still download, watch, and create content on TikTok, while businesses will still be permitted to advertise on it.
In a statement cited by TechCrunch, François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, said that “the decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice.”
Why has Canada closed TikTok operations?
TechCrunch claims that user data concerns are at the heart of Canada’s backlash against TikTok — similar to the backlash the app has faced in the US.
However, TikTok isn’t taking this lying down. In a statement to TechCrunch, a spokesperson of the app said: “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.”
Ultimately, as TechCrunch points out, this closure is a consequence of the “Investment In Canada” Act. This law triggered a national security review after Canada banned the use of TikTok on all Government devices in February 2023.
