Canada’s federal court has invalidated a government directive to cease operations of TikTok in Canada, allowing the popular short-form video app to continue functioning. The decision was made by federal court judge Russel Zinn, who referred the matter back to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly for further assessment without providing detailed explanations.
A spokesperson from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada informed CBC News via email that the issue will now undergo a fresh national security review by the minister. Due to the confidentiality rules outlined in the Investment Canada Act, the spokesperson refrained from elaborating on the review process.
TikTok expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling to set aside the shutdown order, emphasizing their readiness to collaborate with the minister to find a resolution that benefits the extensive user base in Canada. Maintaining TikTok’s operational team in Canada is seen as a strategic move to uphold significant investments in the country and preserve numerous local job opportunities.
In November 2024, Canada’s industry ministry had directed the dissolution of TikTok’s business citing national security concerns, although user access and content creation were not obstructed. TikTok promptly contested the decision, leading to the recent court ruling.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been working to strengthen ties with China to counteract the adverse effects of U.S. tariffs on the Canadian economy. TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been under scrutiny by Canada and other countries over fears that Beijing might exploit the app for data collection or to advance its agenda.
TikTok had previously committed to enhancing measures to safeguard children on its Canadian platform following an investigation that revealed deficiencies in blocking underage users and protecting personal data.