What the federal ban on TikTok's Canadian operations means for you

The federal government ordered an end to TikTok's Canadian operations on Wednesday, citing national security concerns. But its decision to keep the app itself available has privacy experts puzzled.

The order to shutdown the social media platform's Vancouver and Toronto offices cameafter a months-long national security review of the app.

The federal government banned TikTok from government devices in February 2023.

How big a deal is this?

For most Canadians, the decision to end the social media platform's operations in the country will go largely unnoticed.

Innovation Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne saidthose directly affectedby the decision are TikTok employees, most of whom aren't Canadian citizens.

With the social media platform's Canadian operations ending, those workers will be required to leave the country, depending on their status.

A spokesperson for TikTok said in an email Wednesday that the company plans to take legal action.

"Shutting down TikTok's Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not in anyone's best interest, and today's shutdown order will do just that," the company said. "We will challenge this order in court."

In a later statement, aspokesperson called Champagne's comment that most affectedTikTok employees aren't Canadian citizens "categorically untrue and a troubling insinuation."

"The majority ofTikTok's staff in Canada are proud Canadian citizens and permanent residents. We invite the minister to meet our employees whose jobs and livelihoods will be impacted by this order," the spokesperson said.

Should Canadians stop using TikTok?

It's at their discretion.

Champagne told CBC News that Canadians will have to "draw their own conclusions" about TikTok, but as with any social media app, they should be mindful of their use.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has warned Canadians against using TikTok.

Former CSIS director David Vigneault told CBC in an interview it's "very clear" from the app's design that data gleaned from its users "is available to the government of China."

"As an individual, I would say that I would absolutely not recommend someone have TikTok," Vigneault said at the time.

Tiktok collects data on users, such as theirlocation, IP address, search history and how they engage with content on the platform, according to the company's privacy policy.

Philip Mai, co-director of the Toronto Metropolitan University's Social Media Lab, saidthat personal data collected by platforms like TikTok, Facebook and X can be easily harnessed later to build a profile of users and potentially compromise them.

WATCH | Should you still be on TikTok?

Canada has ordered TikToks offices closed. Should you still be on the app?

2 days ago

Duration 2:06

The federal government has ordered TikTok to close its offices in Canada because of national security concerns. CBCs Ashley Fraser explains what we know and dont know about that risk.

The main security concern about TikTok, Mai said, lies in the fact that the company that owns it ByteDance is subject to the Chinese government.

He said the worry is that ByteDance could be forced by Beijing to turn over user data to the Chinese government, and "we'd never know until it's too late."

"There is no public evidence yet of any harm" for Canadian TikTok users, Mai said. "That doesn't mean that there has been no harm. It just means that we haven't seen it yet."

Leaked audio from internal TikTok meetingsshows that U.S. user data isrepeatedly accessedfrom China.TikTok's parent company allegedly helped build China's system for cracking down on Uyghurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic group in the Xinjiang province. A former employee alleges it also helped authorities track protesters in Hong Kong.

WATCH | CSIS chief issues warning about TikTok:

Top spy warns about the dangers of TikTok

6 months ago

Duration 2:24

CSIS director David Vigneault says using TikTok is risky and the potential for the government of China to access personal data from the social media platform poses a threat to the way we live.

David Shipley, CEO of Fredericton-based Beauceron Security, said social media users can be presented with videos and images without knowing why those messages are being amplified.

"Make no mistake. These things can be weaponized," he said. "It's not just China, of course."

Shipley added that those controlling social media algorithms determine what sorts of narratives users are exposed to, whichshapes their "perception of the world ... And that benefits people and not necessarily you."

"We live in a hostile information environment and arming countries that do not have our interests [at heart] with tools to directly influence the minds of Canadians is a stupid, bad idea," hesaid.

How does this compare to the potential U.S. TikTok ban?

U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law in April 2023 requiring ByteDance to either sell the social media platform by Jan. 19, 2025, or see TikTok banned in the U.S.

TikTok has described thatlaw as an infringement on the free speech rights of its users, most of whom use the app for entertainment.

"We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail," the company wrote on the social platform X.

Michael Geist, University of Ottawa law professor and Canada Research Chair in internet and e-commerce law, said shutting down TikTok's operations in Canada might make enforcing privacy laws more difficult.

"It is really puzzling to take an approach that seems to weaken enforcement, to weaken some of the other public policy objectives that the government has, and doesn't seem to do really anything to the underlying security and privacy-related concerns," he said.

WATCH |Canada bans TikTok business operations, but Canadians can still use app

Canada bans TikTok business operations, but Canadians can still use app

2 days ago

Duration 2:02

Justin Trudeau's Liberal government has banned TikToks business operations in Canada over national security concerns, but Canadians can still use the app. Government officials have said the decision was made on advice from Canadas security and intelligence community.

When enforcing the law, it's useful to have companies with a physical presence inthe country, Geist said.

"You want to have someone that you can deal with, that you can sometimes serve legal papers to," Geist said. "That's much tougher if the companyisn't even operating here."

Why not ban the app altogether if it poses a security risk?

On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mlanie Joly said the decision to endTikTok'sCanadianoperations was based on a recommendation from intelligence authorities and police forces.

"We've been preoccupied by the activities of the corporate entity of TikTok Canada based out of Vancouver," Joly said, addingthat the decision sends "a message" to China.

"The TikTok that is in Canada through social media is based out of Singapore and so it is not part of this decision that my colleague Franois-Philippe Champagne just announced."

WATCH | Joly says Canada was 'preoccupied' with TikTok Canada's corporate activities:

Joly says TikTok operations ban sends a message to China

2 days ago

Duration 1:39

The federal government announced Wednesday it's ordering TikTok to close its operations in Canada, but Canadians can still download and use the app. On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Mlanie Joly said the federal government was preoccupied by the activities of the corporate entity of TikTok Canada.

Maisaid he suspects that with a federal election around the corner, the federal government may not be keen to upset young voters who are more likely to use TikTok.

"It looks like they might be slow-walking the TikTok ban," Mai said. "To bring Canada in line with our Five Eyes partners, they may have to ban the app completely, but that would be way after the election."