Canada ousts TikTok: Business ban amid security concerns

Canada is open to foreign direct investment, but the government will take strong action if such investments pose a security risk, stated François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation and Science, in an official announcement.

Under the Investment Canada Act, Ottawa can order foreign companies to leave the country if they pose a threat to national security. TikTok Technology Canada Inc., which has offices in Toronto and Vancouver, has been ordered to end its business operations in Canada. At the same time, the minister clarified that "the government is not blocking Canadians' access to the TikTok app or the ability to create content."

Back in May of this year, the then-director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), David Vigneault, warned against using TikTok and sharing information on it. In November of last year, CSIS representatives informed a parliamentary committee on access to information, privacy, and ethics that terrorists, hostile governments, and groups are using social media to spread disinformation, and children are also becoming their target.

In 2022, Justin Trudeau announced that TikTok was being monitored by Canadian intelligence. In February 2024, access to the app was blocked on the official phones of public administration employees from 9:00 AM Eastern Time.

Minister Champagne has urged citizens to use the platform responsibly and pay particular attention to protecting their own privacy. The government states that the decision to ban TikTok's business operations aims to enhance national security and protect the personal information of Canadians. Previously, countries like the USA, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and Denmark imposed similar restrictions on TikTok.