
TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT BANS TIKTOK
Immigration law
05 Feb
Citing national
security concerns, the federal government has directed TikTok to close its two
Canadian offices in Toronto and Vancouver, though users will still be able to
access the app. Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne explained that
the decision was based on information uncovered during a national security
review, as well as guidance from Canada's security and intelligence agencies.
Innovation
Minister François-Philippe Champagne told CBC News that the activities
conducted by TikTok in its Canadian offices could pose a threat to national
security," While he could not provide further details, he emphasized that
Canadians would understand the seriousness of the government's actions to
safeguard national security.
The statement
clarified that the government is not preventing Canadians from accessing the
app or creating content, noting that the decision to use a social media
platform remains a personal choice.
Philippe
Champagne urged Canadians to use TikTok "with eyes wide open,"
acknowledging the concerns raised by critics who warn that the Chinese
government could potentially access users' data. "Look, if you're going to
dance to the latest trend or watch funny cat videos, just be mindful of the
risks,". He further added that
parents and anyone hopping on the TikTok train should stay aware of what
they're sharing online.
"Canadians
should follow good cybersecurity practices and think about the risks of using
social media and apps. This includes knowing how their personal information is
protected, used, and shared by foreign companies, and understanding which
country's laws apply," Champagne said in his statement.
The decision was
made under the Investment Canada Act, which permits the review of foreign
investments that could pose a threat to Canada's national security.
U.S. lawmakers
have said that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is basically
controlled by the Chinese government. They worry that China could use its laws
to force ByteDance to share TikTok user data for security purposes, which
raises concerns about the safety of that information.
The Canadian
Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has issued a warning to Canadians—yes,
even teenagers—to think twice before scrolling through TikTok. Apparently, it's
not just your parents who think you should be more careful with your screen
time.
In February
2023, the Canadian government banned TikTok from all government devices, and
later launched a national security review of the app. The statement issued on
Wednesday was the outcome of that review, which Innovation Minister
François-Philippe Champagne described as involving "rigorous scrutiny by
Canada’s national security and intelligence agencies."
TikTok has
consistently argued that its servers are located outside of China, beyond the
reach of the Chinese Communist Party, and that it complies with Canadian data
protection and privacy laws.
Philippe
Champagne said in a statement that "Canadians must adopt strong
cybersecurity practices and evaluate the potential risks of using social media
platforms and apps. This includes understanding how their personal information
may be protected, managed, used, and shared by foreign entities, as well as
being aware of the applicable laws in different countries,"
Shutting down
TikTok’s Canadian offices and eliminating hundreds of good local jobs is not
beneficial for anyone, and today’s order will lead to just that.