Canada has ordered TikTok to shut down its offices in Toronto and Vancouver due to growing concerns about data privacy and potential foreign interference related to its Chinese ownership. This decision aligns with a global trend of countries implementing bans or restrictions on TikTok,

Though TikTok wasn’t banned in Canada, the country shut down two of its TikTok offices in Vancouver and Toronto.

The industry minister closed TikTok’s offices in Toronto and Vancouver over security concerns, but Canadians can still download and use the app.

The government of Canada ordered TikTok Technology Canada to dissolve on Wednesday, citing national security concerns. TikTok Technology Canada is the business arm of the Chinese company ByteDance in the country. In a weird move, Ottawa did not order a ban on TikTok itself, and citizens will still be allowed to use the app.

The Canadian government has ordered the social video service to shutter its two offices in the country, citing national security concerns.

Canada’s government has taken bold steps to wind up TikTok’s business operations in the country — but without banning the app itself.

The order, which will allow people to still use the app, cited concerns about TikTok’s owner, the Chinese tech giant ByteDance.

Following other countries' lead, including the United States, the government cracks down on the video-sharing app over national security concerns.

In the wake of Canada’s decision to ban TikTok’s business operations over national security concerns, The National asks cybersecurity expert Brent Arnold and CBC’s national technology columnist Takara Small to break down the impacts for TikTok users and whether a full ban on the app is next.