Canadian federal court allows Tik Tok to keep operating after ban reserved

Canada’s federal court on Wednesday overturned a 2024 government order to shut Tik Tok’s Canadian operations, allowing the short-video app to keep operating for now, a decision Ottawa had taken following a national security review.  

In November 2024, Canada’s industry ministry ordered TikTok’s business to be dissolved, citing national security risks, but added the government was not blocking access or users’ ability to create content.

Canadians were never prevented from using the popular video-making platform, but the industry ministry had ordered the  closure of offices in Toronto and Vancouver belonging to TikTok Technology Canada, part of China-based ByteDance.

TikTok, which says it has more than 14 million monthly users in Canada, appealed the decision.

In a short judgment, federal court judge Russel Zinn set aside the order and sent the matter back to Industry Minister Melanie Joly for review. He did not give any reasons.

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Multiple Western governments have alleged that the app allows Beijing to collect data and spy on users.

Canada banned TikTok from all government devices in 2023, but said that personal use of the app was a decision for individual Canadians.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has been seeking closer ties to China to help offset the damage done to the Canadian economy by US tariffs.

Canada and other nations have been scrutinizing TikTok because of concerns China could use the app to harvest users’ data or advance its interests. TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance.

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Last September, TikTok agreed to improve its measures to keep children off its Canadian website and app after an investigation found its efforts to block children and protect personal information were inadequate.