Title: Ottawa Allows Government Departments to Advertise on TikTok Despite Security Concerns
Sub-title: TikTok remains an option for Canadian government ads, even as the app faces national security scrutiny.
In a move that has raised eyebrows, the Canadian federal government is still permitting its departments to advertise on TikTok, despite growing security concerns about the platform. This decision comes after Ottawa ordered TikTok to close its two Canadian offices, citing “national security risks.” However, the government has not imposed a full ban on advertising campaigns funded by taxpayer money.
The policy has drawn criticism from cybersecurity experts who argue that the government’s stance sends mixed signals to Canadians. On one hand, Ottawa warns of potential data risks from TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company Bytedance. On the other hand, government ads could still run on the platform, raising questions about consistency.
In 2023, the government spent over $1.1 million on TikTok ads, close to its spending on Twitter ads but much less than on Facebook and Instagram. Some government departments, including Public Safety Canada and Health Canada, ran TikTok campaigns earlier this year despite warnings from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) about the app’s potential to share user data with China.
As the government navigates the complicated relationship with TikTok, Canadians are left trying to balance their concerns about privacy and the government’s continued use of the platform for public campaign.