The Canadian government has approved Chinese tech giant ByteDance's short video platform TikTok to continue operating in Canada, but it must comply with new rules including "strengthened protection" of Canadian user data. The previous Canadian government had banned TikTok from operating in Canada in 2024 on the grounds of national security risks.
According to a report by Bloomberg and other foreign media, Canadian Industry Minister Joly said in a statement on the 9th that after completing a new round of security reviews, TikTok's Canadian branch is now allowed to continue operating in Canada, provided it makes new legally binding commitments to strengthen security measures.
Joly said that TikTok will add "security gateways and privacy-enhancing technologies" to manage access to Canadian user data, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized or prohibited access to information. However, her statement did not detail these measures.
The statement pointed out that TikTok has agreed to strengthen protections for minors and will also appoint an independent third party to "review and continuously verify data access controls."
The statement also said that the above decision will secure jobs for Canadians, ensure that TikTok's Canadian branch maintains a physical presence in Canada, and is committed to honoring its investment in the cultural sector.
TikTok on Monday confirmed the requirement to strengthen safety measures mentioned in the statement and said it had reached an agreement with the Canadian government to continue operating in Canada.
In November 2024, the Canadian government led by former Prime Minister Trudeau ordered TikTok to close its branch in Canada. This meant that TikTok was forced to close its offices in Toronto and Vancouver, but Canadian users could still use the TikTok app. TikTok has 16 million users in Canada, accounting for over 35% of the country's total population.
This January, the Canadian Federal Court ruled to overturn the previous government's order to close TikTok's Canadian operations, allowing the short video app to continue operating temporarily, and required Ottawa to review the relevant case.