TikTok Canada Unit Challenges Government Shutdown Order
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TikTok's Canadian unit has filed an emergency motion with Canada's Federal Court seeking a judicial review of a government order mandating the shutdown of its Canadian operations due to national security concerns.
In a statement released Tuesday, TikTok requested the court to overturn the government's order, which was issued last month following a national security review of TikTok's investment and expansion plans in Canada. A court filing, dated December 5, outlines TikTok's request for the order to be set aside or, alternatively, returned to the government for further review with additional guidance.
TikTok argues that the shutdown would result in substantial job losses, affecting hundreds of employees. "We believe it's in the best interest of Canadians to find a meaningful solution and ensure that a local team remains in place, alongside the TikTok platform," the company stated.
The Canadian government's national security review was initiated last year, examining TikTok's investment and expansion plans. Due to legal restrictions, the government cannot disclose specific details of these investments.
The order, while halting TikTok's operations in Canada, does not currently block Canadian users from accessing the platform. TikTok boasts over 14 million monthly users in Canada. Canada's Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry has yet to respond to Reuters' request for comment.
The Canadian action follows similar steps taken in the United States, where President Biden signed a law in April requiring ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to divest its US assets by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. TikTok and ByteDance have filed appeals in the US seeking a temporary block on the law.