Last year, the Canadian government began examining the expansion strategy of ByteDance Ltd., the firm responsible for TikTok, which intended to establish a local branch named "TikTok Technology Canada Inc." Unfortunately, this initiative was halted as the government opted to eliminate TikTok's business operations in the nation, which also results in the loss of hundreds of local jobs. On a positive note, Canadians can continue to access the website and utilize the mobile applications, at least for now.
Government Statement
In a statement from Canadian Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, he mentioned, "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." Clearly, this does not prevent TikTok from challenging this ruling in court, hoping for a more favorable outcome.
App Accessibility
While everyday users can access TikTok without restrictions, the app has been prohibited on devices issued by the government. Officials have described it as having "an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security," which was the reasoning behind this ban.
Ongoing Legal Battles in the US
In the United States, the Chinese social media company is currently contesting a law from the Biden administration that mandates ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19th or face a potential ban. U.S. officials assert that the Chinese ownership of the company poses a risk to national security.
