What’s really behind Canada’s move to shutter TikTok‘s Canadian offices?

The stated reason?
National security threats and potential data sharing with the Chinese government (more on that here: Tik-ing Time Bomb – Canada’s Crackdown On The Business Of TikTok)
Still, the platform itself remains fully accessible to all Canadian users as-is (no changes or additional oversight to the algorithm).

If data privacy and surveillance are the core concerns, wouldn’t the greater risk lie within the app, not the local ad sales operations?

Is this less about security and more about seizing control of the bigger media narrative?
With TikTok emerging as a dominant force in the battle for consumer attention, could this be another attempt to hobble a perceived threat to the traditional and local media players?

As lawmakers grapple with content regulation and the rise of online harms, how does this all work?

Without a Canadian business office, might this mean that Canadian advertisers will deal with TikTok’s US-based sales office and geo-target the ads to Canada?
Or, is this a calculated move by the government in the name of delivering a symbolic warning shot to China?
It’s not just about the hundreds of Canadians employed at TikTok, it’s also about the creators, brands, and small/medium businesses that have leveraged the platform to build audiences and drive growth.
Policymakers should provide a comprehensive, coherent explanation – one that goes beyond two words (“national security”) and speaks to the broader implications for Canada’s digital future…. and more importantly, why shuddering media sales but leaving the app fully accessible solves anything…

Lots and lots of questions.

This is what Trudie Mason and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

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