"Don't Use TikTok" - Canada Joins US and EU in Cracking Down on Chinese App

TikTok Ban on Government-Registered Devices
Canada-China 'Cold War Atmosphere' Expected to Persist

The Canadian federal government has decided to impose an outright ban on the use of the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok.

According to major foreign media on the 27th (local time), the Canadian federal government has decided to prohibit the installation and use of TikTok on government-registered devices. This is a strong regulatory measure following the U.S. federal government and the European Union (EU) Commission. The ban will take effect on March 7.

After conducting an internal review, the Canadian federal government judged that TikTok's data collection methods could make users vulnerable to cyberattacks. Foreign media reported that this decision was made by the government's Chief Information Officer to ensure information security.

Photo by Asia Economy DB

On the 15th, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), Canada's dedicated communications intelligence agency, is closely monitoring TikTok.

He stated, "I know people are very concerned about TikTok," and added, "We are watching it carefully."

Canada's independent privacy protection agency, the Privacy Commissioner, also announced on the 23rd that it would begin investigating whether TikTok poses risks to personal information security.

In a statement, the commission said, "We will investigate whether TikTok complies with Canadian laws, particularly whether accurate and sufficient consent has been obtained for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information." This investigation is currently ongoing.

A TikTok spokesperson expressed strong regret over Canada's suspicions and decision.

The TikTok spokesperson said, "The Canadian government has not mentioned any specific security issues nor contacted us," and added, "We are curious about the reasons behind such measures."

Multiple foreign media outlets explained that Canada's decision to ban TikTok is seen as another potential factor in the ongoing China-Canada tensions that have persisted over recent years.

Diplomatic tensions between the two countries escalated after Canada detained Meng Wanzhou, CFO of the Chinese company Huawei, at the request of the U.S. in 2018, and China arrested two Canadians on espionage charges. Following this, Canada also banned the use of Huawei-made 5G equipment.

In addition, controversy arose after documents were revealed suggesting that China supported certain candidates in various ways to help the ruling party win Canada's 2021 general election.

Furthermore, Canada claims that China has conducted reconnaissance activities over Canadian airspace and territorial waters using "spy balloons," which China has protested against, indicating that relations between the two countries are deteriorating without signs of easing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.