Canada has decided to allow TikTok to continue operating in the country after the company agreed to adopt stricter data security and privacy measures, reversing an earlier order that would have forced the Chinese-owned platform to shut down its Canadian operations.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced on March 9 that TikTok Canada has accepted a series of new safeguards aimed at protecting the personal information of Canadian users. These measures include the introduction of new security gateways and advanced privacy technologies designed to tightly control who can access user data.
According to Joly, the decision followed a comprehensive national security review conducted with input from Canada’s intelligence and security agencies as well as other government partners.
“The Government of Canada will use all of its powers under the Investment Canada Act to ensure that the commitments made by TikTok Canada are fully implemented and enforced,” Joly said in a statement.
Under the agreement, TikTok will also strengthen protections for minors on the platform. Additionally, the company will appoint an independent third-party auditor responsible for regularly reviewing and verifying the platform’s data access controls.
TikTok welcomed the government’s decision, saying it was pleased to reach an agreement that allows the company to maintain its operations and workforce in Canada.
In a statement, the company said the new security framework would create a strong barrier around Canadian user data. TikTok also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Canadian creators and cultural groups, with particular attention to Francophone and Indigenous communities through training programs and funding initiatives.
The move comes amid efforts by Canadian leadership to strengthen economic ties with China. Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China in January, seeking to expand trade beyond the United States and attract more foreign investment into Canada. During the visit, Ottawa and Beijing signed cooperation agreements covering sectors such as electric vehicles, energy, agriculture and law enforcement.
Carney described the relationship between Canada and China as entering “a new era” and referred to the partnership as increasingly strategic.
However, the decision to allow TikTok to continue operating has drawn criticism from opposition politicians. Conservative MP Raquel Dancho questioned why the government abandoned its earlier shutdown order shortly after the prime minister’s visit to Beijing.
Dancho argued that the change raises serious concerns because TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is headquartered in China and subject to Chinese intelligence laws that require companies to assist the government in gathering information when requested.
She warned that reversing the shutdown order could send troubling signals about Canada’s commitment to protecting national security and user data.
The controversy stems from an earlier decision by Ottawa in November 2024 ordering TikTok to shut down its Canadian offices due to what officials described as specific national security risks.
TikTok challenged the order in court, arguing that closing its Canadian operations would eliminate hundreds of jobs. In January, the federal government informed the Federal Court that it had reached a temporary agreement with the company to pause the shutdown order while conducting a fresh security review.
The court then allowed TikTok to continue operating while the review was completed.
Security agencies in several Western countries have long expressed concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership. In 2022, then-FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that Chinese authorities could potentially use the platform to collect vast amounts of user data or manipulate its recommendation algorithms.
Similar concerns have been raised in Canada. Canadian Security Intelligence Service officials have previously warned that authoritarian governments could use data gathered from social media platforms to carry out foreign influence campaigns.
Because of these risks, Canada banned TikTok from government-issued devices in 2023, citing an unacceptable level of privacy and security concerns.
The debate is not limited to Canada. The United States has also scrutinized the platform over national security issues. In 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring TikTok to restructure its American operations to avoid a potential ban.
A deal finalized in January created a U.S.-based joint venture in which American companies oversee data security, while ByteDance retains only a minority ownership stake.
Despite ongoing scrutiny, TikTok remains one of the most widely used social media platforms globally, particularly among younger audiences. With the new agreement in place, Canada will now closely monitor the company’s compliance with the enhanced security commitments.
