Trudeau government bans TikTok from operating in Canada but Canadians can still use it

Citing national security concerns, the federal government has ordered TikTok to shutter its Canadian operations but users will still be able to access the popular video app.

Innovation Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne said the decision to wind downTikTok's two Canadian offices in Toronto and Vancouver was based on information and evidencethat surfaced during a national security review,and the advice of Canada's security and intelligence community.

"We came to the conclusion that these activities that were conducted in Canada by TikTokand their offices would be injurious to national security," he toldCBC News.

"I'm not at liberty to go into much detail, but I know Canadians would understand when you're saying the government of Canada is taking measures to protect national security, that's serious."

The statement stressed that the government is not blocking Canadians from accessingthe app or using itto create content.

"The decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice," the statement said.

But Champagne urged Canadians to use TikTok "with eyes wide open." Critics have claimed that TikTok users' data could be obtained by the Chinese government.

"Obviously, parents and anyone who wants to use social platform should be mindful of the risk," he said.

The decision was made in accordance with the Investment Canada Act, which allows for the review of foreign investments that may harm Canada's national security.

A spokesperson forTikTok said 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. We will challenge this order in court," the spokesperson said in an email.

U.S. has flagged concerns withByteDance

U.S. lawmakers have contended that TikTok ownerByteDance is beholden to the Chinese government, which could demand access to the data of TikTok's U.S. consumers through Chinese national security laws that compel organizations to assist with intelligence gathering.

TikTok's parent company ByteDance is also accused ofhelping to buildChina's system for cracking down on the Uyghur minority, and of targetingprotestersin Hong Kong.

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

Former CSIS director David Vigneault told CBCNews it's "very clear" from the app's design that data gleaned from its users "is available to the government of China" and its large-scale data harvesting goals.

"Most people can say, 'Why is it a big deal for a teenager now to have their data [on TikTok]?' Well in five years, in 10 years, that teenager will be a young adult, will be engaged in different activities around the world," he said at the time.

"As an individual, I would say that I would absolutely not recommend someone have TikTok."

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.

In February 2023, the Canadian government banned the social media platform from all government devices. Later that year, it ordered a national security review of the app.

Wednesday's statement was the result of that review, which Champagne said involved "rigorous scrutiny by Canada's national security and intelligence community."

TikTokhas long maintained thatits servers are outside of China and beyond the control ofthe Chinese Communist Party, and that it followsCanadian data protection and privacy laws.