The federal government ordered an end to TikTok’s Canadian operations on Wednesday, citing national security concerns. But its decision to keep the app itself available has privacy experts puzzled.
The order to shut down the social media platform’s Vancouver and Toronto offices came after a months-long national security review of the app.
The federal government banned TikTok from government devices in February 2023.
How big a deal is this?
For most Canadians, the decision to end the social media platform’s operations in the country will go largely unnoticed.
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne said those directly affected by the decision are TikTok employees, most of whom aren’t Canadian citizens.
With the social media platform’s Canadian operations ending, those workers will be required to leave the country, depending on their status.
A spokesperson for TikTok said in an email Wednesday that the company plans to take legal action.
“Shutting down TikTok’s Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying …