It’s been a few years now since the TikTok application invaded our daily lives. Since its launch (or almost), the Chinese platform has been subject to a series of controversies, with numerous challenges, sometimes stupid, sometimes dangerous (and often both at the same time), but also advertisements containing false and erroneous statements, to the point that some American states recently decided to go on the offensive, accusing the platform of having knowingly designed an addictive product to the detriment of the mental health of young people.
Canadian subsidiary of TikTok asked to close its doors
In Canada, the ByteDance application is also making headlines, with the government having already banned the use of TikTok on federal mobile devices. Many governments are questioning the links between the company and the Chinese government. After a warning from Justin Trudeau last May, the government recently took a new radical decision.
“Following the conduct of a national security review process (…) the Government of Canada has ordered the liquidation of the Canadian business operated by TikTok Technology Canada” indicate local authorities. TikTok will therefore have to close the offices it has in Toronto and Vancouver, with the government going so far as to mention “specific national security risks“.
Note that this does not mean the ban on the application itself, which remains available, TikTok Technology Canada inc. primarily handling sales and marketing operations. The government, however, encourages Canadians to be careful with TikTok, even if the decision to use this or that application is a purely personal choice.
For its part, ByteDance wanted to react, confirming its desire to challenge this decision in court. “Closing TikTok’s Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying local jobs is in no one’s interest” says the Chinese company. In the United States, TikTok is also accused of spying and manipulating American citizens, which strongly denies the company behind TikTok.
Finally, let’s remember to conclude that in 2024, some divorcing couples are now fighting for custody of the children, the house, the pet, the raclette machine… and the TikTok account.
