The Chinese social network TikTok, threatened with ban in the United States, is also the subject of an audit in Canada, the government announced Friday, worried about its national security in a context of diplomatic tensions with China.
“We have launched a national security review (of TikTok)” since September, François-Philippe Champagne, Canada's Minister of Innovation and Industry, said in a teleconference from Italy.
“Once we complete this, we will inform Canadians of any action we decide to take,” he added.
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Threat to ban TikTok in the United States: China denounces “thug methods”
This audit was launched as part of its foreign investment law, revised last year.
Under this legislation, “spreading disinformation or manipulating information in a manner that undermines the national security of Canada” can lead to sanctions.
Risk of espionage?
TikTok has for several months been in the crosshairs of American authorities who believe that the application of short videos potentially allows the Chinese government to spy on and manipulate American citizens.
The company has always denied these accusations.
The American House of Representatives adopted a text on Wednesday which, in the event of a favorable vote in the Senate, would force the popular application to cut ties with its Chinese parent company ByteDance, under penalty of ban in the United States.
Also read: Suspicions of espionage: TikTok soon to be banned on the phones of French officials?
Canada banned the entertainment application from government smartphones in February 2023.
Sino-Canadian relations have deteriorated significantly in recent years and China is suspected of interference, particularly during the last Canadian elections.