Canada has banned TikTok from operating in the country due to national security concerns, Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced on Wednesday. As a result, TikTok will be required to close its offices in Toronto and Vancouver. While Canadians can still use the app, Champagne urged caution, advising users to be mindful of potential risks to their personal data.
“The government is not blocking access to TikTok, nor preventing Canadians from creating content,” Champagne clarified. However, he emphasized the importance of practicing good cybersecurity and understanding how personal information might be handled by foreign entities.
This decision follows a comprehensive security review, with input from Canada’s security and intelligence agencies. Champagne noted that the ban was based on evidence gathered during this process.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had previously warned the public about the risks of using TikTok. Former CSIS director David Vigneault highlighted the long-term risks, pointing out that data collected from young users today could have far-reaching consequences in the future.
Similarly, U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns, and TikTok could face a full shutdown in the U.S. by January 2025 unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests its American operations. U.S. officials fear that the Chinese government could force TikTok to share sensitive data on American users.
