Key points
- Government closure followed security review
- TikTok challenges decision, wins reprieve
- Further national security review ordered
TORONTO, Canada: A Canadian federal court has set aside a 2024 government order requiring the closure of TikTok’s offices in Toronto and Vancouver, granting the Chinese-owned company a temporary reprieve while instructing Ottawa to carry out a further national security review.
Canadians were never prevented from using the popular video-sharing app, but the industry ministry had ordered the closure of offices in Toronto and Vancouver belonging to TikTok Technology Canada, part of China-based ByteDance, reports AFP.
TikTok challenged the government order in court, and secured a temporary victory on Wednesday, Canadian media reported.
In addition to setting aside the order, a federal court instructed the industry ministry to conduct a further security review, media reports said.
Canada’s industry ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
TikTok Canada spokesperson Danielle Morgan told French language public broadcaster Radio Canada that the court ruling enabled “a path forward that continues to support millions of dollars of investment in Canada and hundreds of local jobs.”
TikTok Canada
“We welcome the decision to set aside the order to shut down TikTok Canada, and look forward to working with the Minister (Melanie Joly) towards a resolution that’s in the best interest of the more than 14 million Canadians using TikTok,” Morgan said.
Ottawa said its November 2024 decision to close the company’s Canadian operations was necessary “to address specific national security risks.”
Multiple Western governments have alleged that the app allows Beijing to collect data and spy on users.
Canada banned TikTok from all government devices in 2023, but said that personal use of the app was a decision for individual Canadians.
In December, TikTok said it has signed a joint venture deal with investors that would allow the company to maintain operations in the United States and avoid a ban over its Chinese ownership.
