Canada’s federal court has invalidated a government directive ordering the closure of TikTok’s operations in Canada, allowing the popular short-form video app to continue its services for the time being. Federal court judge Russel Zinn’s ruling on Wednesday set aside the closure order, directing Industry Minister Mélanie Joly to conduct a review of the matter without providing specific reasons.
A spokesperson from Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada informed CBC News through an email statement that the issue has been referred back to Minister Joly for a fresh national security evaluation. Due to the confidentiality regulations of the Investment Canada Act, further details on the review are not available for disclosure.
In response to the decision to rescind the shutdown order, a TikTok spokesperson expressed gratitude in a statement to Radio-Canada on Wednesday afternoon. The company looks forward to collaborating with the minister to reach a resolution that serves the best interests of the over 14 million Canadian TikTok users. Maintaining TikTok’s Canadian team is seen as crucial for fostering continued investments in Canada and preserving local job opportunities.
In a previous move in November 2024, Canada’s industry ministry had instructed the dissolution of TikTok’s business, citing national security concerns. However, the government clarified that access to the app and users’ content creation capabilities would not be impeded. TikTok contested the directive, leading to the recent court decision.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been pushing for stronger connections with China to mitigate the negative impacts of U.S. tariffs on the Canadian economy. Like many other countries, Canada has been closely monitoring TikTok amid fears of potential data exploitation by Beijing or the advancement of Chinese interests. TikTok, which is under the ownership of ByteDance, a Chinese company, has faced increased scrutiny globally.
In September, TikTok committed to enhancing its child protection measures on its Canadian platform following an investigation that revealed shortcomings in blocking minors and safeguarding personal information.