Order to close TikTok's offices in Canada; Action taken citing threat to national security

On Wednesday, Canada took a big action against Chinese TikTok, citing a threat to national security. It's being ordered in Canada to close closure of all TikTok businesses in the country. However, it was said that the government is not hindering Canadians' access to the short-video app or their interest in creating content.

Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement, 'The government is taking this action to address national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd's operations in Canada through TikTok Technology Canada Inc.' Champagne said, 'This decision has been taken on the basis of the information, evidence gathered during the review and advice from Canada's security, intelligence community, and other government partners.'

Ottawa initiated a review last year of TikTok's plan to invest and expand its business in Canada. ByteDance is TikTok's Chinese parent company. Canadian law allows the government to review potential risks to national security from foreign investments. The law bars the government from making details of such investments public.

To that, TikTok said it would contest this order in the court. "Closing TikTok's offices in Canada and eliminating hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not in anyone's interest. Today's shutdown order will do just that," a company spokesperson said.

In fact, the TikTok app is banned on government devices in Canada. It was removed, citing an unacceptable level of threat to privacy and security. In May, TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance filed a lawsuit in US federal court to block a law signed by President Joe Biden. A law signed on April 24 gives ByteDance until January 19 to sell TikTok or face a ban.