On Tuesday, Canada banned TikTok on government-issued devices, citing privacy and security risks.
The country joins a growing list of western nations, including the U.S., the U.K., and the EU, to ban the China-based social media platform on the devices of government officials and staff.
Some western lawmakers and officials have expressed concerns that the Chinese government could force TikTok to hand over data on its users or influence the videos they see.
- According to Apptopia, TikTok was the most downloaded app in 2022 in the U.S. and worldwide.
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government’s decision to ban TikTok could prompt businesses and individuals to reflect on the security of their data and perhaps make similar decisions.
- A TikTok spokesperson said Canada banned the app without citing any specific security concern or contacting the company with questions.
