TikTok is one of the most used social media pages in the world right now. It is also responsible for the insane amounts of screen time that people have on their phones. However, Canadians might have to start appreciating these hours on the app a lot more as Canada forces TikTok to shut down offices in their country. Keep on reading to discover why!
TikTok’s Offices Are Closing in Canada
Canada has ordered TikTok to close its offices in Toronto and Vancouver, due to national security concerns about the company’s parent company ByteDance, which shares data with the Chinese government. The Canadian intelligence agencies are mostly worried about the risks regarding data privacy for young users. For now, Canadians are still able to use the app. However, François-Philippe Champagne, the Innovation Minister, advises parents and young users to be cautious when using the app.
This Wasn’t The First Step For Canada
In February of 2023, the Canadian Government already decided to ban TikTok from government devices. So people who receive a mobile device from the government, such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop are not allowed to visit TikTok on that device! This decision was made to address concerns surrounding the app’s influence and data security risks!
The latest decision follows a security review and advice from Canada’s intelligence community which flagged TikTok’s operations as a risk to national security. The move to close the offices in Canada aligns with similar decisions made in the United States, where Officials have raised concerns over TikTok’s parent company ByteDance and its links with the Chinese government. Critics say that TikTok may be used for large-scale data harvesting, which could pose future privacy and security threats!
TikTok Plans to Challenge The Order
Obviously, TikTok does not want to lose the centre of operations in Canada. The company wants to be able to support the users in the country. However, the company also claims that it is not in the best interest of Canadians. The workers of these offices are Canadians who will now lose their jobs!
