Canada also bans TikTok... Western countries and China conflict worsening

Canada has joined the United States and the European Union (EU) in banning the use of the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok. As Western pressure on China intensifies?from TikTok to Chinese spy balloons and the Taiwan issue?conflicts between China and the international community are expected to escalate.

According to major foreign media including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 27th (local time), the Canadian federal government decided to ban the use of TikTok on all devices registered with the government starting from the 28th. Mona Fortier, Chair of the Canadian Treasury Board, explained the background of the TikTok ban, stating that "the risks related to privacy and security are at an unacceptable level."

Foreign media reported that the Canadian government made this decision following an internal review that found TikTok's data collection methods could make users vulnerable to cyberattacks. The Canadian Privacy Commissioner is also expected to investigate TikTok's personal information security risks.

TikTok immediately protested. The company stated, "The Canadian government has never contacted us even once to discuss this," and expressed disappointment with the Canadian government's decision.

Canada's restriction on TikTok use came just four days after the EU Commission banned TikTok on personal and work mobile devices registered with the Commission on the 23rd. Previously, some U.S. federal and state governments also banned TikTok use.

The spread of such 'TikTok bans' among major countries stems from concerns that government secrets and personal information could be leaked to the Chinese government through TikTok.

In the United States, a bill has even been introduced to prohibit TikTok from operating in the country. Republican Congressman Gallagher, who introduced the bill, criticized, "China is using TikTok to expand its global influence." He emphasized the urgency of decoupling the U.S. and Chinese economies, saying, "The Chinese Communist Party is using the same strategies, tactics, and technologies it used to control Chinese people to control Americans."

As the West continues to criticize TikTok's security and harmfulness daily, conflicts between the U.S.-led allied countries and China are expected to deepen further. Following recent tensions with China over the spy balloon controversy, the U.S. Congress is also scheduled to examine China's threats of invasion of Taiwan and human rights issues at the China Special Committee on the 28th, which is expected to provoke a backlash from China.

Canada, too, cannot rule out the possibility that its TikTok ban decision will further intensify the long-standing conflicts with China. Recently, Canada claimed that China has conducted reconnaissance activities in its airspace and territorial waters. China immediately retaliated, worsening bilateral relations.