The Canadian government has ordered TikTok to shut down its operations in the country. Citing unspecified “national security risks” Canada ordered TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance to “wind up” all of its business in the country. However, as reported by Engadget, the government did not ban the app from devices there.
“The government is taking action to address the specific national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd.’s operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada, Inc,” Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement. “The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners.”
Canada’s crackdown on TikTok follows a “multi-step national security review process” by its intelligence agencies, the government said in a statement. The country had previously banned the app from official government devices.
Canada’s move comes several months after the United States government passed a law that could ban the app stateside. Just like Canadian regulators, US lawmakers also cited national security concerns and the app’s ties to China. TikTok has mounted an extensive legal defense against the law.
A TikTok spokesperson released a statement that the company would fight back against Canada’s order as well. “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,” the spokesperson said. “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.”