TikTok in the hot seat in the United States | Canada “closely monitoring” developments

(Ottawa) At a time when United States President Joe Biden has just signed a law forcing the Chinese company that owns TikTok to sell its operations under penalty of expulsion, here in Canada, the federal government continues to study its options .

“Our government is closely monitoring developments related to the bill proposed by American legislators,” Audrey Champoux, press secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François, said in an email on Wednesday. -Philippe Champagne.

A review of TikTok’s activities on Canadian soil was triggered at least a year ago under the Investment Act Canada. The legislation provides for “review of foreign investments of any size for reasons of national security.”

“The government has not hesitated, and will not hesitate, to take measures with regard to transactions that would undermine Canada’s national security,” added the minister’s spokesperson in the same statement.

For his part, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not want to comment on the Biden administration’s decision. “I’m not going to comment on what other governments are doing,” he said on the sidelines of an announcement in Oakville, Ontario.

“We know that security, privacy, and respect for Canadians’ data must be a top priority for us. We have already taken significant steps on this subject, and we will continue to do so,” he continued.

The federal government removed the social network app TikTok from all its employees’ devices in February 2023, having determined that it posed “an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.”

There are concerns that Xi Jinping’s regime could have access to the data of users of the application. Because since the company that owns TikTok, the giant ByteDance, is established in China, it is legally required to share the data requested by Beijing.

TikTok collaborates, but defends itself

“We continue to collaborate in the government’s review of TikTok’s investment in Canada and remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of the platform,” said a spokesperson for the company’s Canadian branch. .

Because it is in the interest of “millions of Canadian creators, artists and small businesses who rely on TikTok to earn a living, find a community and create jobs,” added the same spokesperson.

In the United States as in Canada, TikTok categorically denies having shared user data with the Chinese government. And the Chinese company promises to fight in court against the “unconstitutional law” promulgated by Joe Biden.

Legault back on TikTok

On the federal scene, deputies from all parties relegated the application of the social network to oblivion in February 2023, after receiving instructions. Party leaders also stopped using TikTok, and none have returned since.

In Quebec, the National Assembly recommended that the 125 elected officials also abandon it, in a directive published on February 28, 2023. It took a few days before Prime Minister François Legault resigned himself to no longer using the popular application.

He ended up returning there about a month ago.

Since that time, around fifteen videos have been published on his TikTok account.