Dec 11, (V7N) - TikTok's Canadian unit has filed an emergency motion with Canada's Federal Court, seeking a judicial review of a government order that mandates the company to shut down its operations in the country due to national security concerns. The motion, filed on December 5, asks the court to either set aside the government’s directive or send it back for further review with guidance. TikTok contends that the order, if implemented, would result in the closure of its Canadian operations, leading to the loss of hundreds of jobs.

The Canadian government's review of TikTok's expansion plans began last year, leading to the order issued in November. This decision comes as part of Canada's broader scrutiny of foreign investments, particularly those involving national security risks. While the order mandates TikTok to cease operations in Canada, it does not block Canadian users from accessing the app, which has over 14 million monthly users in the country.

TikTok argues that a resolution can be reached to ensure a local team remains in place, alongside the platform, benefiting Canadian interests. Similar actions have been taken in the U.S., where President Joe Biden signed a law in April requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. assets by January 2025, or face a nationwide ban. TikTok and ByteDance are challenging this law in court, seeking a temporary block while awaiting a Supreme Court review.

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