Canada Orders TikTok Business Closure In Canada, App Access Continues

JAKARTA - The Canadian government on Wednesday, November 6, ordered the closure of the TikTok business owned by Chinese company ByteDance in the country. They argued national security risks. However, the government did not block Canadians' access to the short video app or their ability to create content.

"The government is taking action to deal with specific risks to national security linked to ByteDance Ltd operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc," Innovation MinisterOKis-Philippemen said in a statement.

This step was taken after Ottawa began reviewing TikTok's plans to invest and expand its business in Canada last year. The Canadian law allows the government to evaluate the potential national security risks of foreign investments such as TikTok's proposal. However, the law prohibits the government from disclosing details of the investment.

"This decision is based on the information and evidence gathered during the review as well as suggestions from the Canadian security and intelligence community as well as other government partners", addedvoca, quoted by VOIfrom Reuters.

TikTok plans to challenge the order in court. "Supposing the TikTok office in Canada and destroying hundreds of well-income local jobs is not in anyone's interest, and today's shutdown order will do so," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.

Canada has previously banned the TikTok app from devices issued by the government because it is considered to have unacceptable levels of risk to privacy and security.

TikTok and ByteDance sued the United States government in federal court in May to block a law signed by President Joe Biden. The law signed by Biden on April 24 gave ByteDance until January 19 to sell TikTok or face bans. The White House said it wanted China-based ownership to end on the basis of national security, but did not impose a ban on TikTok.