Spy agency won't release its TikTok advice to Ottawa, urges caution online

TikTok will be allowed to continue operating in Canada after agreeing to enhanced security measures for users.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service isn’t disclosing the advice it gave the federal government before Ottawa decided to allow TikTok to keep its Canadian operations.

“CSIS encourages all Canadians to proceed cautiously regarding their online presence and to conduct their own research on the type of data being collected and who controls it before joining new social media platforms,” the spy agency said in a media statement.

The Liberal government said Monday it will allow TikTok to continue operating in Canada now that it has more security guarantees from the social media company to protect Canadians’ data.

The government said the decision followed an assessment that included advice from Canada’s security and intelligence community.

A spokesperson for CSIS didn’t respond directly when asked what advice the service gave to the government, or what needs to be in place to ensure Canada’s national security.

A statement said the agency acknowledges the government’s decision and that, along with other members of the security and intelligence community, it “continues to provide Government of Canada policy-makers with intelligence to inform their decisions on mitigating national security risks posed by foreign investment.”

It added that while social media can be a force for good, threat actors “can take advantage of information published online for harmful purposes.”

Ottawa ordered the wind-down of TikTok’s Canadian operations in 2024, but recently asked the Federal Court to set aside that order to permit another review. That decision came shortly after Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China and secured a deal to get Beijing to lower agricultural tariffs in exchange for new market access for Chinese electric vehicles.

Privacy and safety concerns were raised about TikTok and its China-based parent company ByteDance Ltd. because of Chinese national security laws that compel organizations in that country to assist with intelligence gathering.

While the wind-down order wouldn’t have barred Canadian users from downloading and using the popular social media app, the government banned the TikTok app from federal government-issued mobile devices in February 2023.

Mohammad Kamal, spokesperson for Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali, said Tuesday the government regularly reviews measures to protect the security of its networks and data and the existing restrictions will remain in place.

Kamal did not immediately respond Wednesday afternoon to follow-up questions about whether that is a permanent decision or one that the government intends to review.

The conditions under which the government is allowing TikTok to continue operating include implementing stronger protections for Canadians’ personal information, including new security gateways and privacy-enhancing technologies to reduce the risk of unauthorized or prohibited access to Canadians’ data.

An independent, third-party monitor will be also appointed to audit and continuously verify data access controls.

Both TikTok and the government declined to offer more information Wednesday when asked who will be responsible for appointing that monitor, what kind of qualifications they need to have and what the timeline is for the appointment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2026

With files from Jim Bronskill

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press