Canada’s federal court blocks TikTok ban, orders new review
Canada’s federal court overturns Ottawa’s order to close TikTok’s Canadian offices, ensuring that the app remains available while the government conducts a fresh security review.
On Wednesday, Justice Russel Zinn of Canada’s Federal Court struck down the Industry Ministry’s November 2024 order that required TikTok to close its Canadian offices over national security concerns. The decision sent the matter back to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly for reconsideration, but the court did not provide detailed reasoning.
The ruling keeps TikTok’s Toronto and Vancouver offices from immediate closure, allowing the app to remain accessible to more than 14 million monthly Canadian users.
Security concerns persist
Despite the reversal, Canadian officials are still cautious. Lawmakers and intelligence experts have long warned that TikTok could be used to collect sensitive data or advance Beijing’s strategic interests. Canada is not alone. Other Western governments share the same sentiment about TikTok’s continuous influence.
In September 2025, TikTok also admitted its safeguards to protect children online and secure personal information were incomplete, pledging to strengthen its measures following a federal investigation.
These concerns still do not sway countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. They are the countries with the highest TikTok reach, as reported by Statista in October 2025. It further added that virtually 154.3 percent and 134.6 percent of the population aged 18 and older are using the popular social video app.
Company response
According to a local media, TikTok Canada spokesperson Danielle Morgain said the ruling protects millions in investment and hundreds of local jobs. She further added that the app is committed to working with Canadian regulators to address ongoing concerns.
Economic stakes
TikTok’s Canadian offices employ staff in engineering, marketing, and content moderation. Multiple reports cite that the platform generates millions annually in advertising revenue, which fuels Canada’s digital marketing ecosystem. Influencers and small businesses rely heavily on TikTok for brand visibility and sales. But these income streams would have been disrupted if a shutdown were to happen.
The decision also signals Canada’s openness to Chinese investment, potentially paving the way for future trade deals or technology partnerships.
Moreover, it brought over $33 billion in ad revenue, indicating that short videos have turned into a serious business, according to TikTok Revenue Statistics 2025. Brands, creators, and small businesses are all riding on the app.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, also mirrors this strength. As reported on Tech in Asia, ByteDance reported a global ad revenue of about $155 billion in 2024, an increase of 29 percent from the previous year. The app’s net worth was also estimated to be between $100 billion and $200 billion in 2025, as reported by priori data. The company’s international expansion has been a significant factor in its revenue growth, particularly in the U.S. market.
Political context
Observers note that the government’s handling of TikTok is intertwined with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s broader effort to strengthen ties with China. The strategy aims to cushion Canada’s economy against U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
What’s next
The case now returns to Ottawa for review, leaving TikTok’s long-term future in Canada uncertain. For now, the ruling ensures the app remains available to millions of Canadian users while the government reassesses its position. Canada’s decision is closely watched in Washington as it could signal whether allies are willing to push back against Chinese tech firms or accommodate them for economic reasons.
In the U.S., TikTok also faces similar scrutiny with the Supreme Court considering laws that could ban the app over national security concerns. In early January 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of a law that bans TikTok in the United States. As reported on several media outlets, Tiktok’s servers stopped working in the United States for several hours on 18 January 2025. It only returned after President Trump promised to sign an executive order that would stay the ban for 75 days.
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