Canada is shutting down TikTok's office due to national security concerns.

The Canadian government has ordered the closure of TikTok offices within the country, citing national security threats linked to the Chinese parent company ByteDance, which founded the app. Despite this action, Canadians will still be able to access and use TikTok.

According to reports from The New York Times, this information comes from Minister of Innovation François-Philippe Champagne.

Mr. Champagne stated that this decision was made following recommendations from Canadian security and intelligence agencies, which have warned about the potential risks posed by ByteDance to national security. He emphasized that Canadian legislation requires enhanced scrutiny of foreign investments that may threaten security.

In response, TikTok announced its intention to challenge the order in court, claiming that the closure of the service would result in the loss of numerous high-paying jobs in Canada. According to LinkedIn and other online sources, employees working in the company's Canadian offices located in Toronto and Vancouver were involved in advertising and app management.

The U.S. government is also considering a complete ban on TikTok, possibly by January, amid concerns regarding data privacy, security, and misinformation. Lawmakers in Washington fear that the app could transmit sensitive data to the Chinese government or be used to spread misinformation, particularly among young users. These concerns have led to similar restrictions worldwide: the UK, Australia, France, Taiwan, and New Zealand have restricted access to TikTok on official devices, while India imposed a complete ban in 2020.

Canada had previously banned TikTok on government devices but allowed its use in public spaces. The app remains extremely popular in the country: recent data indicates it is downloaded nearly 700,000 times each month.

While the closure of TikTok offices aims to address security issues, experts like Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, warn that shutting down the offices may limit the government’s ability to hold TikTok accountable. “The risks associated with the app will remain, but the ability to ensure accountability will be weakened,” he noted in his blog.

Background. Previously, Mind reported that the European Commission mandated the removal of TikTok Lite from the EU market.