- The head of CSIS David Vigneault warned Canadians against using the short-video app TikTok, saying data gleaned from its users is available to the government of China.
- A TikTok spokesperson said in response to a request for comment that these assertions are unsupported by evidence and will continue to engage with Canadian officials to discuss how we protect the privacy and security of Canadians.
- The Chinese parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, has filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court this month seeking to block Biden’s bill to end its ownership of TikTok.
The head of Canada’s Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) David Vigneault warned Canadians against using the short-video app TikTok, saying data gleaned from its users is available to the government of China in an interview on Saturday.
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TikTok under fire in North America
Canada in September ordered a national security review of a proposal by TikTok to expand the short-video app’s business in the country. Vigneault said he will take part in that review and offer advice, according to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Vigneault also said “My answer as director of the CSIS is that there is a very clear strategy on the part of the government of China to be able to acquire personal information from anyone around the world.
“These assertions are unsupported by evidence, and the fact is that TikTok has never shared Canadian user data with the Chinese government, nor would we if asked,” a TikTok spokesperson said in response to a request for comment, added that “we will continue to engage with Canadian officials and would welcome the opportunity to meet with CSIS to discuss how we protect the privacy and security of Canadians.”
It’s not the first time TikTok has faced scepticism in North America, with President Joe Biden signing a law on April 24 that says Chinese parent company ByteDance has until January 19 to sell TikTok or face a ban. The White House has said it wants China to end its ownership of TikTok for national security reasons, but not ban it. Bytedance has filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court this month seeking to block the signing.
