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TikTok Collected Sensitive Data on Canadian Children, Probe Reveals

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TikTok has pledged to strengthen safeguards to keep children off its platform after a Canadian investigation concluded that the company failed to adequately block underage users and protect their personal information.

The inquiry, led by Canada’s federal privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne along with privacy watchdogs in Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta, found that hundreds of thousands of Canadian children used TikTok annually despite the platform’s minimum age requirement of 13.

Investigators also determined that TikTok collected sensitive personal data from “a large number” of children and used it for marketing and content-targeting purposes. “TikTok collects vast amounts of personal information about its users, including children. This data is being used to target the content and ads that users see, which can have harmful impacts, particularly on youth,” Dufresne said at a press conference.

In response, TikTok agreed to adopt stricter age-verification systems, improve transparency about how user data is used, and prevent advertisers from directly targeting anyone under 18, except through broad categories such as language or approximate location. The company also expanded the privacy information available to Canadian users.

A TikTok spokesperson said the company was pleased regulators accepted several of its proposals to “further strengthen” protections for Canadian users, while noting disagreement with some of the findings. The spokesperson did not specify which ones.

The case comes amid growing global scrutiny of TikTok due to concerns about its ties to China. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, and governments worldwide—including the EU and the U.S.—have taken steps to restrict or ban the app on official devices.

In Canada, the government launched a review of TikTok’s planned expansion in 2023, which ultimately led to an order demanding the company shut down its Canadian operations over national security risks. TikTok is challenging that order.

Hikvision to appeal Canadian court ruling upholding shutdown order

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Chinese surveillance camera maker Hikvision said Tuesday it will challenge a Canadian Federal Court decision that upheld Ottawa’s order for the company to cease operations in Canada on national security grounds.

The court dismissed Hikvision’s bid to overturn the June shutdown order, siding with the Canadian government’s argument that the firm’s activities could pose security risks.

A Hikvision spokesperson rejected the claim, saying: “We remain steadfast in our position that our products and technology do not pose a national security threat, and there is no evidence that indicates they have ever presented such a risk to Canada.” The company has notified Ottawa of its intent to pursue arbitration under a 2014 bilateral investment treaty.

Hikvision’s Canadian unit employs 66 staff and sells products through local distributors. While the shutdown order blocks direct operations, it does not explicitly ban the sale of Hikvision products in Canada.

The dispute unfolds against the backdrop of worsening Canada–China relations. Ottawa recently imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese EVs and a 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum, while Beijing retaliated with 75.8% duties on Canadian canola seed imports pending an anti-dumping probe.

The Hikvision case could become another flashpoint in an already fraught trade and diplomatic relationship.

Dye & Durham Investor Plantro Pushes for Board Change and Company Sale

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Plantro Ltd, the second-largest investor in Canadian legal software firm Dye & Durham (DND.TO), has initiated a proxy fight to elect new directors and is calling for a full sale of the company, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.

Owning an 11% stake, Plantro formally nominated three candidates—Brian Bidulka, David Danziger, and Martha Vallance (a former COO of Dye & Durham)—to the seven-member board. The nominations seek to replace board chair Arnaud Ajdler and directors Tracey Keates and Ritu Khanna. Plantro has also requisitioned a special shareholder meeting to vote on the proposed directors.

Plantro emphasized that its nominees bring expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital allocation, operations, technology, and governance. The investor argues that a mere divestiture of the company’s financial services division, previously suggested, is insufficient. Instead, it urges an immediate full sale to secure a control premium for shareholders and stabilize the business.

Since January, Dye & Durham’s stock price has dropped 42%, valuing the company at about $488 million. Plantro criticized the current board for resisting engagement with potential buyers despite acknowledging that unsolicited acquisition interest exists. The company revealed in February it had received a takeover offer at C$20 per share but declined to engage with the bidder.

Last year, Dye & Durham retained Goldman Sachs as a strategic adviser to explore options but paused the review in November after shareholder feedback.

Dye & Durham and the nominated directors did not respond immediately to requests for comment.