Canada Permits TikTok Operations After Security Review

OTTAWA, Canada — The Canadian government has permitted TikTok to resume and maintain its operations in the country following the completion of a national security review, reversing a prior directive to shut down its local offices.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the decision on March 9, 2026, stating it depends on TikTok implementing stricter safeguards for minors and the personal data of all Canadian users. The move ensures the company retains a physical presence in Canada, preserving jobs at its facilities in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. Joly emphasized that the government will monitor compliance closely and pursue additional steps to enhance social media safety for young people.

The ruling overturns an order issued in November 2024 under then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which required ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to wind down its Canadian subsidiary over national security risks related to data handling and potential foreign influence. That directive would not have prohibited Canadians from using the app but would have closed the company's offices and curtailed its local business activities.

In January 2026, a Federal Court judge suspended...