The Canadian government has just announced the conclusion of its national security review of TikTok and arrived at a curious conclusion: it plans to ban the company from operating in Canada but the app will remain available here. I wrote earlier this year about the need for better laws to counter the risks associated with TikTok, rather than banning the app altogether. That post came in response to U.S. legislation that proposed to ban the app, but which is now in doubt given the results of yesterday’s U.S. Presidential election. There may well be good reasons to ban the app if it poses security and privacy risks that differ from those of other platforms, but banning the company rather than the app may actually make matters worse since the risks associated with the app will remain but the ability to hold the company accountable will be weakened.
The decision would also seem to undercut the government’s digital policies, including the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11) and the Online Harms Act (Bill C-63). TikTok appeared before the Ethics Committee late last month on disinformation, intervened at the CRTC on the implementation of the Online Streaming Act, and would presumably have played a role in hearings on online harms (if those occur). Nothing stops the company from submitting to these processes from outside of the country, but it is hard to envision it prioritizing (or perhaps even complying) with Canadian regulatory processes if it is banned from formally operating in the jurisdiction. Moreover, TikTok will likely promote that it has spent significant money on Canadian cultural policy initiatives, with a particular focus on music and indigenous creators. Much like the Meta withdrawal from news and its associated agreements, it is similarly unlikely it will continue to provide that support in light of the corporate ban.
If there are real security and privacy issues – and Minister Champagne says there are – the government should surely take action. But as Ron Deibert of the Citizen Lab noted last year in calling out TikTok’s use of his lab’s research:
The conversation about potential privacy and national security concerns with TikTok should serve as a reminder that most social media apps are unacceptably invasive-by-design, treat users as raw material for personal data surveillance, and fall short on transparency about their data sharing practices. This is why comprehensive privacy legislation is desperately needed.
The government’s efforts to provide comprehensive privacy safeguards have stalled in the House of Commons and now face the prospect of not passing before an election call. This is due in part to the ill-advised decision to combine long-overdue privacy reforms with AI regulation. Today’s announcement doesn’t solve the larger privacy issue facing Canadians and may ironically make matters worse by weakening the ability to hold TikTok accountable for the privacy and security of Canadians.
Canada’s mainstream media has been relying on TikTok for growth in the wake of Meta dropping news links. With the company getting ousted, I’m not sure there is any money in there outside of third party sponsorship’s. This over top of how absolutely screwed Canadian creators who use the platform are.
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As usual, our pathetic Liberal government gets it completely wrong.
When will they stop scoring on their own net 🥅??🤦
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The release says “the Government of Canada has ordered the wind up of the Canadian business carried on by TikTok Technology Canada, Inc. “, but doesn’t explain what that means. Will TikTok still be able to generate advertising revenue in Canada? And will it still pay Canadian creators? Also is TikTok prohibited from setting up another Canadian subsidiary or hire an agent to conduct business in Canada?
Without knowing the answers to these questions I can’t tell if this ban has any substance or was it done for show.
Tiktok has never paid Canadian creators. They do in the US, but not in Canada.
Yes, they can still sell ads in Canada.
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The app is safe… the government is just mad because we can get uncensored news. And can voice opinions
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Plize FOR hoy
What would those Canadian cultural policy initiatives be, that Tiktok has spent “significant money” on?
It can’t be the linked blogpost which celebrates a few indigenous Tiktok users. Such a blogpost does not cost “significant money”.
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Companies like Meta and X that promote climate change denial and openly back rightwing political movements backed by the oil and gas industry-no problem. TikTok associated with a country pumping out cheap green energy-banned. You know you’re living in a Petro-State when.
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With the re-election of Donald Trump chances of getting TikTok banned in the US are slim to none unfortunately.
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The app is safe. What’s wrong with the Government?
–Marietta drywall
If they ban TikTok, they should also ban themselves. The government is a true dictatorship making China look bad. Facebook uses the Israeli Spy Program, Pegasus! Slap in the face, you are so stupid. You are just mad because the government’s misinformation is being shown as the garbage it is and they need to censor the truth to seem like they are the good guys. This move is disgusting while we continue to bomb civilians!
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