Canada Orders Closure of TikTok Technology Canada, Inc.

The Government of Canada has decided to wind up the operations of TikTok Technology Canada, Inc. This decision follows a national security review conducted under the Investment Canada Act. The review process involved scrutiny by Canada's national security and intelligence community. The government cited specific national security risks associated with ByteDance Ltd.'s operations in Canada as the reason for this action.

The decision does not restrict Canadians from accessing the TikTok application or creating content on it. The government emphasizes that using social media platforms is a personal choice and advises Canadians to adopt good cybersecurity practices. They recommend consulting guidance from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to understand the risks associated with social media platforms.

This action is part of the government's broader application of the Investment Canada Act, which allows for the review of foreign investments that may pose national security risks. The government applies enhanced scrutiny to investments in various sectors, including interactive digital media, as outlined in a policy statement from March 2024.

The government maintains that while Canada welcomes foreign direct investment, it will take decisive action when such investments threaten national security.