Trudeau says his kids 'no longer access' TikTok after Canadian government ban
Not even the children of the prime minister are exempt from a ban on TikTok for government-issued devices.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's teenage daughter and son, Ella-Grace and Xavier, "no longer access TikTok," the father of three told reporters during a joint press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden in Ottawa on March 24. Trudeau's youngest son, Hadrien, is only nine years old.
On the first day of Biden's first presidential visit to Canada, the two leaders answered questions about topics ranging from Norad to instability in Haiti to whether Trudeau feels comfortable with his children or family members using the social media app.
"I am obviously concerned with their privacy and their security," Trudeau told reporters, "which is why I'm glad that on their phones, that happen to be issued by the government, they no longer access TikTok. That was a big frustration for them."
On Feb. 28, Canada joined the United States and the European Union in banning the app on federal government-issued devices over privacy and security concerns. The governments of all 10 provinces and three territories have also followed suit.
Trudeau said he also has concerns about the extent to which apps like TikTok expose teenagers, including his, to misinformation, disinformation and "malicious activity."
When it comes to the internet in general, he said governments also have a responsibility to keep people safe in what amounts to a virtual public square, including by taking legislative action against online hate speech and incitements to commit violence.
Like many parents, Trudeau said he's spent a lot of time talking with his children about "what's online and how they should try and go outside and play a little more sports and not get so wrapped up in their phones."
He said he will continue to do so, and encouraged other parents and guardians to do the same.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada sticking with 2050 net zero targets, but progress may come faster than expected, minister says
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says the federal government is not ruling out finding ways to achieve net zero sooner than the existing 2050 goal, but would not say whether there would be a definitive commitment to move up the target.

Huda Mukbil, CSIS's first Black Arab-Canadian Muslim, spy opens up about her fight against terrorism and discrimination
Huda Mukbil, Canada's first Black Arab-Canadian Muslim spy, opens up in her new book about life in the world of espionage and the discrimination she faced within the CSIS.
Increase in mosquitoes 'a trend' across Canada this year. Here's why
Mosquitoes have always been pesky, but this spring it seems the bloodsuckers are thirstier than ever, a trend one expert says is increasing.
Four kids and one man drown after Quebec fishing accident: provincial police
A fishing excursion ended in tragedy on Saturday when four children died in a village in northeastern Quebec, provincial police said.
China rebukes U.S., Canadian navies for Taiwan Strait transit
China's military rebuked the United States and Canada for 'deliberately provoking risk' after the countries' navies staged a rare joint sailing through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
What to know as Prince Harry prepares for court fight with British tabloid publisher
Prince Harry is set to testify in the first of his five pending legal cases largely centred around battles with British tabloids. Opening statements are scheduled Monday in his case.
Apple is expected to unveil a sleek, pricey headset. Is it the device VR has been looking for?
Apple appears poised to unveil a long-rumoured headset that will place its users between the virtual and real world, while also testing the technology trendsetter's ability to popularize new-fangled devices after others failed to capture the public's imagination.
Ukrainian president says at least 500 children killed by war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia's war, now in its 16th month, has killed at least 500 Ukrainian children.
Indian railways official says error in signalling system led to crash that killed 275 people
The derailment in eastern India that killed 275 people and injured hundreds was caused by an error in the electronic signalling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks and crash into a freight train, officials said Sunday.
W5 HIGHLIGHTS
W5 Investigates | What's driving limb-lengthening surgery -- a radical procedure making men taller
A growing number of men are undergoing a radical surgery to become taller. CTV W5 goes inside the lucrative world of limb-lengthening surgery.

Shrinking coastlines: Will more Canadians have to move because of climate change?
Post tropical storm Fiona showed how quickly Canadians can be displaced by climate change. W5 looks into whether more people living in vulnerable areas will have to consider moving in the years to come.

W5 EXCLUSIVE | Interviewing a narco hitman: my journey into Mexico's cartel heartland
W5 goes deep into the narco heartland to interview a commander with one of Mexico's most brutal cartels.

W5 Investigates | Daniel Jolivet insists he's not a murderer and says he has proof
Convicted murderer Daniel Jolivet, in prison for the past 30 years, has maintained his innocence since the day he was arrested. W5 reviews the evidence he painstakingly assembled while behind bars.
I met the 'World's Tallest Teenager' and his basketball career is just taking off
W5 Producer Shelley Ayres explains how she was in awe to meet what the Guinness Book of World Record's has named the World's Tallest Teenager, a 17-year-old from Quebec who plays for Team Canada.
W5 Investigates | Pivot Airlines crew seeking justice after 'cocaine cargo' detainment
CTV W5 investigates what authorities knew about plans to smuggle cocaine out of the Dominican Republic on a Toronto-bound Pivot Airlines flight. The airline's crew is demanding justice following their eight-month detention.
W5 profile | This Canadian helped write some of Carrie Underwood's biggest hits – here's how he does it
Gordie Sampson has written hit songs for some of the biggest names in country music, including Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan. CTV W5 speaks with the Grammy winner from small-town Nova Scotia about his creative process.
W5 EXCLUSIVE | W5 exposes the drug connections and money trail in the Pivot Airlines story
On CTVNews.ca, W5 exposes the suspicious company chartering a Pivot Airlines flight that ended up with 210 kilograms of cocaine onboard.