Canada Reverses TikTok Shutdown with Security Conditions

The Canadian federal government has reversed its 2024 order to shut down TikTok's operations in the country, allowing the social media platform to maintain its physical presence and resume full activities under new security and privacy commitments. The decision, announced on March 10, 2026, follows a fresh review prompted by Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent visit to China and comes amid ongoing international scrutiny of the app owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd.

TikTok, which boasts between 14 million and 16 million active monthly users in Canada, faced closure of its offices in Toronto and Vancouver in November 2024. The initial order, issued under then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, stemmed from national security concerns linked to Chinese laws requiring companies to assist intelligence efforts. While the ban targeted the company's local operations and device-based services, it did not prohibit Canadians from accessing the app. In January 2026, the government sought to set aside the order through the Federal Court to enable further assessment, a move that aligned with Carney's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. There, Carney secured an agreement to reduce...