Latest news with #StevedeEyre
Malaysian Reserve
a day ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
TikTok urgently pitches Canada security solution to avoid shutdown
TikTok is trying to talk with Canada about security solutions that would spare the popular video app from a looming order to shut operations in the country. So far, its pleas have fallen on deaf ears, said Steve de Eyre, director of TikTok's government affairs for Canada, in an interview. 'We are still looking to get to the table,' he said. TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance Ltd., started this month to freeze spending on cultural programs and sponsorships, following a November directive to close its Canadian unit, which cited national security concerns. TikTok would still be available on app stores for Canadians to use after the shutdown. 'Time is running out,' de Eyre said, though the company declined to share its deadline. TikTok has challenged the order in court. TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew wrote to Industry Minister Melanie Joly on July 2 requesting an urgent in-person meeting within the next two weeks. According to a copy of the letter seen by Bloomberg, he wrote: 'The windup process is rapidly approaching a critical juncture where, unless you intervene, TikTok will be forced to fire all of its Canadian employees' as well as halting investment and support for creators. De Eyre confirmed the contents of the letter, and said the company hasn't yet received an official response. The Industry Ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. In other countries where it's faced concerns, TikTok has set up systems to fence off user data to prevent it from being sent to China. These were dubbed Project Texas in the US and Project Clover in the EU. Asked if TikTok has pitched Canada an equivalent like 'Project Maple,' de Eyre said: 'Maybe it would be Project Maple. But we need to sit down, understand the concerns that Canada has, and we want to build a solution that would provide greater data security, greater oversight and accountability where there are these concerns.' In the UK, TikTok hired a British firm to audit its data controls and protections to allay concerns. Right now, TikTok says it stores Canadian user data in the US, Ireland, Singapore and Malaysia. The company said it paid C$340 million ($248 million) in Canadian tax from 2019 to 2024, employs about 350 people across Toronto and Vancouver, and has 14 million Canadian users. 'We've had people who have unfortunately left for other opportunities because of this order being out there, and we haven't been able to rehire for those roles because of the order,' de Eyre said. He argued the ban was enacted by a different government, under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 'in a different time,' and that things have changed in the US, where Donald Trump has delayed a more comprehensive order for ByteDance to sell or shut down the app. Last month Trump said he's found a buyer for the US operations. The irony of Canada's order if it goes through, de Eyre argues, is that the country loses 'the accountability of having a TikTok entity within Canada's legal jurisdiction, having employees who are directly accountable to parliament and regulators and law enforcement,' even though the app will remain available. –BLOOMBERG
Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
TikTok urgently pitches Canada security solution to avoid shutdown
[VANCOUVER] TikTok is trying to talk with Canada about security solutions that would spare the popular video app from a looming order to shut operations in the country. So far, its pleas have fallen on deaf ears, said Steve de Eyre, director of TikTok's government affairs for Canada, in an interview. 'We are still looking to get to the table,' he said. TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, started this month to freeze spending on cultural programmes and sponsorships, following a November directive to close its Canadian unit, which cited national security concerns. TikTok would still be available on app stores for Canadians to use after the shutdown. 'Time is running out,' de Eyre said, though the company declined to share its deadline. TikTok has challenged the order in court. TikTok chief executive officer Shou Zi Chew wrote to Industry Minister Melanie Joly on Jul 2 requesting an urgent in-person meeting within the next two weeks. According to a copy of the letter seen by Bloomberg, he wrote: 'The windup process is rapidly approaching a critical juncture where, unless you intervene, TikTok will be forced to fire all of its Canadian employees' as well as halting investment and support for creators. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up De Eyre confirmed the contents of the letter, and said the company has not yet received an official response. The Industry Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In other countries where it's faced concerns, TikTok has set up systems to fence off user data to prevent it from being sent to China. These were dubbed Project Texas in the US and Project Clover in the EU. Asked if TikTok has pitched Canada an equivalent like 'Project Maple', de Eyre said: 'Maybe it would be Project Maple. But we need to sit down, understand the concerns that Canada has, and we want to build a solution that would provide greater data security, greater oversight and accountability where there are these concerns.' In the UK, TikTok hired a British firm to audit its data controls and protections to allay concerns. Right now, TikTok says it stores Canadian user data in the US, Ireland, Singapore and Malaysia. The company said it paid C$340 million (S$318 million) in Canadian tax from 2019 to 2024, employs about 350 people across Toronto and Vancouver, and has 14 million Canadian users. 'We have had people who have unfortunately left for other opportunities because of this order being out there, and we haven't been able to rehire for those roles because of the order,' de Eyre said. He argued the ban was enacted by a different government, under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 'in a different time', and that things have changed in the US, where US President Donald Trump has delayed a more comprehensive order for ByteDance to sell or shut down the app. Last month, Trump said he's found a buyer for the US operations. The irony of Canada's order, if it goes through, de Eyre argues, is that the country loses 'the accountability of having a TikTok entity within Canada's legal jurisdiction, having employees who are directly accountable to parliament and regulators and law enforcement', even though the app will remain available. BLOOMBERG
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
TikTok Urgently Pitches Canada Security Solution to Avoid Shutdown
Article content (Bloomberg) — TikTok is trying to talk with Canada about security solutions that would spare the popular video app from a looming order to shut operations in the country. Article content So far, its pleas have fallen on deaf ears, said Steve de Eyre, director of TikTok's government affairs for Canada, in an interview. 'We are still looking to get to the table,' he said. Article content Article content TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance Ltd., started this month to freeze spending on cultural programs and sponsorships, following a November directive to close its Canadian unit, which cited national security concerns. TikTok would still be available on app stores for Canadians to use after the shutdown. Article content Article content 'Time is running out,' de Eyre said, though the company declined to share its deadline. TikTok has challenged the order in court. Article content Article content TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew wrote to Industry Minister Melanie Joly on July 2 requesting an urgent in-person meeting within the next two weeks. Article content According to a copy of the letter seen by Bloomberg, he wrote: 'The windup process is rapidly approaching a critical juncture where, unless you intervene, TikTok will be forced to fire all of its Canadian employees' as well as halting investment and support for creators. Article content De Eyre confirmed the contents of the letter, and said the company hasn't yet received an official response. The Industry Ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Article content In other countries where it's faced concerns, TikTok has set up systems to fence off user data to prevent it from being sent to China. These were dubbed Project Texas in the US and Project Clover in the EU. Article content Article content Asked if TikTok has pitched Canada an equivalent like 'Project Maple,' de Eyre said: 'Maybe it would be Project Maple. But we need to sit down, understand the concerns that Canada has, and we want to build a solution that would provide greater data security, greater oversight and accountability where there are these concerns.' Article content In the UK, TikTok hired a British firm to audit its data controls and protections to allay concerns. Article content Right now, TikTok says it stores Canadian user data in the US, Ireland, Singapore and Malaysia. The company said it paid C$340 million ($248 million) in Canadian tax from 2019 to 2024, employs about 350 people across Toronto and Vancouver, and has 14 million Canadian users. Article content 'We've had people who have unfortunately left for other opportunities because of this order being out there, and we haven't been able to rehire for those roles because of the order,' de Eyre said.
Global News
07-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
TikTok Canada halts arts sponsorships including with TIFF, Junos as shutdown looms
TikTok says it's pulling out as a sponsor of several Canadian arts institutions including the Juno Awards and the Toronto International Film Festival as it prepares to comply with a federal order to shut down operations in Canada. Since opening offices in Toronto and Vancouver TikTok says it has invested millions in programs and partnerships supporting local artists and creators over the past five years. But TikTok Canada's director of public policy and government affairs Steve de Eyre says Ottawa is now enforcing its order from last November to wind down operations over national security concerns, and TikTok has no choice but to suspend those initiatives indefinitely. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Another group that will be impacted is the education charity MusiCounts, which TikTok says it's provided with $500,000 to date to support high school music programs. The social media giant has been a Junos partner since 2020 and a title sponsor of the Juno Fan Choice Award. Story continues below advertisement It's also worked with TIFF since 2022, sponsoring the festival's Short Cuts and Special Presentations programs, and supporting industry panels that featured Canadian creators. Also among the casualties is the National Screen Institute's TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators that has worked with nearly 400 participants since 2021. Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill, the program's manager, calls the shutdown 'sad and disheartening,' saying the accelerator has been a vital source of career opportunities and mentorship for Indigenous creators.
Hamilton Spectator
07-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
TikTok Canada halts arts sponsorships including with TIFF, Junos as shutdown looms
TORONTO - TikTok says it's pulling out as a sponsor of several Canadian arts institutions including the Juno Awards and the Toronto International Film Festival as it prepares to comply with a federal order to shut down operations in Canada. Since opening offices in Toronto and Vancouver TikTok says it has invested millions in programs and partnerships supporting local artists and creators over the past five years. But TikTok Canada's director of public policy and government affairs Steve de Eyre says Ottawa is now enforcing its order from last November to wind down operations over national security concerns, and TikTok has no choice but to suspend those initiatives indefinitely. Another group that will be impacted is the education charity MusiCounts, which TikTok says it's provided with $500,000 to date to support high school music programs. The social media giant has been a Junos partner since 2020 and a title sponsor of the Juno Fan Choice Award. It's also worked with TIFF since 2022, sponsoring the festival's Short Cuts and Special Presentations programs, and supporting industry panels that featured Canadian creators. Also among the casualties is the National Screen Institute's TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators that has worked with nearly 400 participants since 2021. Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill, the program's manager, calls the shutdown 'sad and disheartening,' saying the accelerator has been a vital source of career opportunities and mentorship for Indigenous creators. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025.
