Canada vs. TikTok: a partial ban that leaves many questions
This week, Canada surprised by ordering the dissolution of TikTok Technology Canada, the subsidiary of ByteDance, for national security reasons. However, it has not banned the use of the app itself, and Canadian users will still be able to access TikTok without restrictions. The government has shown its distrust of ByteDance, arguing that, as a Chinese company, TikTok could be subject to the demands of the Chinese Communist Party, with risks to privacy and security.
This “partial blocking” approach reflects growing concern in the West about the handling of data and the influence of foreign social media platforms. Although the specific details of Canada’s national security report have not been revealed, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne emphasized that the measure is necessary to protect the nation.
The growing regulation of social networks and the case of TikTok
Globally, TikTok has faced multiple restrictions. In the United States, both the Trump and Biden administrations have attempted to limit ByteDance’s operations in the country. From bans on government devices to pressure to sell the app to American companies, TikTok has become the center of a dispute between Washington and Beijing. By 2025, TikTok could stop operating in the US unless it changes ownership.
This move is just one part of a broader wave of social media restrictions. In the European Union and Australia, authorities are implementing laws that seek to protect young users and limit the spread of misinformation on platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. In Australia, a proposal is being debated to prohibit the use of these platforms by those under 16 years of age, which marks a drastic change in the use of social networks.
This article was translated from Gizmodo US by Thomas Handley. Here you can find the original version.
