The order, issued by Canada’s industry ministry following a national security review, targeted the closure of TikTok Technology Canada’s offices in Toronto and Vancouver. The Canadian arm of China-based ByteDance, TikTok Technology Canada was ordered to cease operations despite the app remaining accessible to the general public.
TikTok challenged the decision in court, and on Wednesday secured a temporary victory when the court set aside the closure order, Canadian media reported. In a further development, the court directed the industry ministry to conduct an additional security review before taking any further action, according to reports.
The industry ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Reacting to the ruling, TikTok Canada spokesperson Danielle Morgan said the decision offered “a path forward that continues to support millions of dollars of investment in Canada and hundreds of local jobs.” Speaking to French-language public broadcaster Radio Canada, Morgan added that TikTok looked forward to working with Industry Minister Melanie Joly to reach a resolution that serves the interests of the app’s more than 14 million Canadian users.
Ottawa’s original decision in November 2024 cited “specific national security risks” as the reason for ordering the shutdown of TikTok Canada’s offices. The move reflected growing concerns among Western governments that the platform could enable Beijing to collect user data and potentially spy on citizens.
Canada previously banned TikTok from all government devices in 2023, while maintaining that individual Canadians could continue to use the app for personal purposes.
The ruling comes amid broader global scrutiny of TikTok’s ownership and data practices. In December, TikTok announced a joint venture agreement with investors aimed at preserving its operations in the United States and avoiding a potential ban over its Chinese ownership.
The court’s decision adds a new twist to the ongoing debate over TikTok’s presence in Western markets and raises fresh questions about how Canada will balance national security concerns with the interests of millions of users and the tech industry.