Canada’s federal court has overturned the government’s decision to shut down TikTok’s operations in Canada, allowing the popular video-sharing platform to continue its services for now. Federal court judge Russel Zinn issued a brief ruling on Wednesday, setting aside the closure order and referring the matter back to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly for further evaluation without providing specific reasons.
A representative from Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada informed CBC News via email that the issue will now be reviewed again by Minister Joly for a new national security assessment. Due to confidentiality regulations under the Investment Canada Act, detailed comments on the review process were not disclosed.
TikTok expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision to suspend the shutdown order, emphasizing its commitment to collaborating with Minister Joly to reach a resolution that benefits the platform’s over 14 million Canadian users. Maintaining TikTok’s Canadian workforce intact is seen as crucial for supporting ongoing investments in Canada and preserving hundreds of local jobs.
The initial directive to dissolve TikTok’s operations in Canada was issued by the industry ministry in November 2024, citing national security concerns. However, the government clarified that access to the app and content creation capabilities would not be restricted. TikTok promptly contested the decision, leading to the recent legal developments.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been actively pursuing stronger connections with China to counteract the economic repercussions of U.S. trade tariffs on the Canadian economy. Countries, including Canada, have been closely monitoring TikTok amid worries that the Chinese company ByteDance, which owns the platform, could exploit user data or promote its agendas through the app.
In response to investigations revealing shortcomings in safeguarding children and personal data on its Canadian platform, TikTok agreed last September to enhance its protective measures to prevent minors from accessing the site and to better secure user information.
