Court decision keeps TikTok running
A Canadian federal court has ruled that TikTok can continue operating in Canada for now. The decision overturns a government order that sought to shut down the company’s Canadian business. As a result, the court has asked the federal government to review the case again.
Background to the dispute
In November 2024, Canada’s industry ministry ordered TikTok to dissolve its Canadian operations. The government said the move was necessary because of national security concerns. However, it did not block the app itself or stop users from posting content.
TikTok, which says it has more than 14 million monthly users in Canada, appealed the decision soon after.
What the court said
Federal Court Judge Russel Zinn set aside the shutdown order in a brief ruling. He sent the matter back to Industry Minister Melanie Joly for review. The judge did not explain his reasons.
The industry ministry did not comment immediately. Meanwhile, TikTok welcomed the ruling. The company said it looks forward to working with Minister Joly.
Political and security context
At the same time, Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed for closer ties with China. He sees this as a way to reduce the economic impact of the United States tariffs on Canada.
Still, Canada and several other countries continue to watch TikTok closely. Officials worry that China could use the app to collect user data or influence public opinion. TikTok is owned by the Chinese firm ByteDance Ltd.
Previous concerns about child safety
Last September, TikTok agreed to strengthen its safeguards for children in Canada. This followed an investigation that found gaps in how the company blocked underage users and protected personal data.
