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In a striking move motivated by national security concerns, the federal government is pressuring the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to cease its operations in Canada.
Published Nov 07, 2024 • 4 minute read
The TikTok app is prominently displayed on a smartphone in this archival photo. Photo by Michael Dwyer /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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In a decisive action, the federal government has mandated the closure of TikTok’s Canadian offices situated in Vancouver and Toronto, citing significant security threats.
This closure, however, will not inhibit Canadians from enjoying access to the immensely popular video-sharing app, which experts and security agencies have warned might be exploited by the Chinese government for espionage.
In a statement released Wednesday, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne disclosed that the government has instructed TikTok Technology Canada to “wind up” its business operations due to the “national security risks” associated with the app and its parent company, ByteDance, based in China.
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“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” Champagne asserted in his statement.
“While Canada continues to welcome foreign direct investment, the government will act decisively when investments threaten our national security.”
Champagne’s announcement clarified that the dissolution of TikTok Technology Canada would not impede Canadians’ continued access to the app or their creative contributions.
“The government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content. The decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice,” Champagne elaborated.
“It is essential for Canadians to adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the potential risks associated with using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used, and shared by foreign actors.”
TikTok has been under scrutiny from various governments, including the U.S. and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), due to suspicions that it may offer the Chinese government unauthorized access to users’ data.
The application was officially prohibited from federal government devices in February 2023 amid rising security alerts.
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A CSIS document submitted at the recent Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference revealed that the agency had concerns as early as 2022 regarding TikTok’s potential use by China to monitor foreign individuals.
“TikTok, the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) first Western-centric social media application, has the potential to be exploited by the PRC government to bolster its influence and power overseas, including in Canada,” states the partly redacted CSIS document.
The analysis notes that the app can access sensitive user data, including facial geometry, iris scans, and voice recognition, as well as critical information such as IP addresses and GPS locations.
Following a national security review initiated by the federal Liberals in September 2023, it has now become public knowledge that the investigation into TikTok was underway, a detail first reported by The Canadian Press in March.
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A government database indicated that TikTok had a new subsidiary named Network Sense Ventures Ltd., established in June 2023 for marketing and content development activities across Canada.
The Canadian entity later changed its name to TikTok Technology Canada in August 2020. It’s unclear how many employees work for this Canadian entity; however, the parent company employs more than 38,000 individuals globally.
In a blog post Wednesday, University of Ottawa professor Michael Geist critiqued the decision to shut down TikTok’s Canadian offices without implementing a ban on the app itself, suggesting it may lead to greater challenges.
“There may well be good reasons to ban the app if it poses security and privacy risks that differ from those of other platforms, but banning the company rather than the app may actually make matters worse since the risks associated with the app will remain but the ability to hold the company accountable will be weakened,” Geist noted.
Concerns regarding ByteDance and TikTok’s handling of privacy have intensified, particularly since Chinese national security laws require companies to assist in intelligence efforts.
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In the U.S., legislation is progressing through the House of Representatives aimed at banning TikTok unless its owner in China divests its stake in the application.
With over 1.5 billion users, TikTok remains the fifth most popular social media platform globally, trailing behind Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram, while leading over competitors like X, Snapchat, and Pinterest.
With files from The Canadian Press and National Post
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**Short Interview on the Government of Canada’s Decision to Wind Up TikTok Technology Canada Inc.**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today. To discuss the recent announcement from the Government of Canada mandating the wind-up of TikTok Technology Canada, we have cybersecurity expert Dr. Samantha Chen. Dr. Chen, can you explain the government’s primary concerns regarding TikTok?
**Dr. Chen**: Thank you for having me. The main concern stems from national security issues. Officials are worried that user data collected by TikTok could potentially be accessed by the Chinese government. Given that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China, there are significant fears about the app being used for espionage and surveillance.
**Interviewer**: Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne mentioned that the decision was based on evidence gathered by Canada’s security and intelligence community. What kind of evidence might that entail?
**Dr. Chen**: The evidence likely involved analyses of TikTok’s data practices and how the app interacts with user information. There’s ongoing scrutiny over its ability to access sensitive data, including facial recognition and location data. Canadian Security Intelligence documents have indicated concerns about the app’s potential for monitoring foreign individuals, which is particularly alarming in the context of privacy and security.
**Interviewer**: Despite the closure of TikTok Technology Canada, Canadians will still have access to the app. How might this impact the situation?
**Dr. Chen**: This is a complex issue. While shutting down the Canadian offices might limit TikTok’s operational accountability, the app itself remains available to users. This could lead to ongoing risks because users continue to engage with the platform without any regulatory checks from the Canadian entity. It raises questions about how we can effectively safeguard user data.
**Interviewer**: Some commentators have criticized this move, suggesting that without banning the app, the risks remain intact. What are your thoughts on this?
**Dr. Chen**: That’s a valid point. By targeting the company rather than the application, we might end up in a situation where the app continues to operate, but without any local oversight or accountability. This could complicate future efforts to manage data privacy and security risks. However, the government may have felt this was a measured approach, allowing them to keep a close eye on the app while also addressing immediate security concerns.
**Interviewer**: What should Canadians do in light of this situation?
**Dr. Chen**: It’s crucial for Canadians to stay informed about their online security, understand the risks of using social media applications like TikTok, and adopt good cybersecurity practices. Users should be diligent about the information they share and take steps to protect their data from potential misuse.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Dr. Chen, for your insights on this pressing issue. It’s certainly a conversation that will develop as governments and users navigate the complexities of digital privacy in an interconnected world.
**Dr. Chen**: Thank you for having me. It’s important to keep discussing these issues to ensure informed choices in our digital lives.