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Canada orders termination of TikTok’s Canadian business but won’t block the app
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Canada orders termination of TikTok’s Canadian business but won’t block the app

TORONTO (AP) — Canada announced Wednesday that it has ordered the closure of TikTok’s Canadian business following a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media app but will not block access.

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said it was aimed at addressing risks related to ByteDance Ltd.’s formation of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.

“The government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok app or their ability to create content. Champagne said the decision to use a social media app or platform is a personal choice.

Champagne said it’s important for Canadians to adopt good cybersecurity practices, including protecting their personal information.

He said the termination order was issued under the Canada Investment Act, which allows review of foreign investments that could harm Canada’s national security.

A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that closing the Canadian offices would mean the loss of hundreds of local jobs.

“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesman said. “The TikTok platform will continue to be available for creators to find an audience, discover new interests, and businesses to grow.”

TikTok is hugely popular among young people, but its Chinese ownership has raised fears that Beijing could use it to collect data on Western users or spread pro-China narratives and misinformation. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020.

TikTok faces intense scrutiny from Europe and America over security and data privacy. It comes as China and the West are engaged in a broader feud over technologies ranging from spy balloons to computer chips.

Canada was previously banned The download of TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices reflects growing concerns from Western officials about the video-sharing app.