396/67 Friday, November 8, 2024
The Canadian government has issued an order for TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, to cease its operations in the country, citing national security concerns. This decision followed an assessment conducted by Canada’s security and intelligence community. The government emphasized that it will not restrict general access to TikTok for Canadians but recommended that users consider potential risks associated with using social media apps.
François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, stated that the government wants the public to be aware of the security risks related to data management and the potential involvement of foreign entities. TikTok had already been banned on government devices since February 2023. In response, TikTok argued that shutting down its Canadian office would lead to the layoffs of hundreds of employees and announced plans to challenge the order in court. ByteDance reiterated that it does not share user data with the Chinese government. However, concerns that TikTok could be compelled to hand over data remain a significant issue, prompting the United States to mandate that ByteDance divest TikTok by January 2025 or face a potential ban. Currently, TikTok is completely banned in countries such as Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, and is restricted on government-issued devices in several other nations worldwide.
Source https://thehackernews.com/2024/11/canada-orders-tiktok-to-shut-down.html
