The chief of Canada’s Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has cautioned Canadians against using the popular video app TikTok, asserting that data collected from its users “is available to the government of China,” CBC News reported on Friday.
David Vigneault, the Director of CSIS, stated in an interview scheduled to air on Saturday, “My answer as director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (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.”
In response to these claims, a TikTok spokesperson said, “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.”
The Canadian government initiated a national security review in September to evaluate a proposal by TikTok to expand its business operations in the country.
Vigneault confirmed he would participate in this review and provide his insights, according to CBC.
The TikTok spokesperson further commented, “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.”
In related news, TikTok and its parent company ByteDance recently filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court aiming to block a new law signed by President Joe Biden.
This legislation requires ByteDance to divest from TikTok by January 19 or face a ban.
The White House has emphasized the need to end Chinese-based ownership of the app for national security reasons while not advocating for a complete ban on TikTok.
