As the federal government battles TikTok in court over Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 order to close its Canadian offices, Canada91裸聊视频檚 industry minister says families should make their own decisions about whether to continue using the app.
91裸聊视频淯ltimately, that91裸聊视频檚 a choice for people to make with eyes wide open,91裸聊视频� Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne said.
As for what he tells his own family? Champagne won91裸聊视频檛 share.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 want to give advice on my personal experience in the sense that that is a more broad-based issue91裸聊视频t91裸聊视频檚 like if you were asking about my eating habits, well, they may be well-suited for me and my family,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淢y personal experience or my risk tolerance91裸聊视频ight be very different than other people.91裸聊视频�
Champagne made the comments in a wide-ranging year-end interview with The Canadian Press. The interview was conducted on Dec. 12, before the surprise resignation of former finance minister Chrystia Freeland raised questions about the fate of the Liberal government. Champagne, who has been industry minister since 2021, kept in post in a Dec. 20 cabinet shuffle.
In November, the federal government said that TikTok must close its operations in Canada after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, though the app itself would remain available to Canadians.
The company filed a challenge in December, arguing in Federal Court that the decision was 91裸聊视频渦nreasonable91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渄riven by improper purposes.91裸聊视频�
In the interview, Champagne said companies are free to launch a 91裸聊视频渓egal challenge if they want, but it won91裸聊视频檛 detract me from my first job, which is to protect the national security of Canadians.91裸聊视频�
He declined to specify what the deadline is for the company to wrap up operations.
Privacy and safety concerns around TikTok and its China-based parent company ByteDance Ltd. have centered around Chinese national security laws that compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering. Ottawa hasn91裸聊视频檛 outlined the specific national security reasons behind the shut-down order.
The review didn91裸聊视频檛 deal with the question of whether the app should be banned, Champagne indicated.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a huge difference between using an app and the activities you can conduct on the ground,91裸聊视频� he said.
Champagne said the focus of the government91裸聊视频檚 order was 91裸聊视频渨ith respect to the activities that were conducted by TikTok in its offices in Canada.91裸聊视频�
Asked whether that means there are no national security concerns about Canadians using the app or that the order just didn91裸聊视频檛 look at that question, Champagne responded: 91裸聊视频渦nder the law, my jurisdiction is with respect to the activities conducted in Canada by a foreign entity91裸聊视频�.That91裸聊视频檚 why I say there91裸聊视频檚 a difference between an app and the activities being conducted by employees in offices in Canada.91裸聊视频�
Champagne said people should listen to advice that has 91裸聊视频渂een given by security agencies both in Canada and abroad in making an informed decision for them or their children, if they really want to use these platforms.91裸聊视频�
In May, David Vigneault, then the director of CSIS, said he personally would not recommend using the app.
TikTok wasn91裸聊视频檛 the only national security issue involving a high-profile company for Champagne this year.
In September, the Liberal government announced a $2.14 billion loan to Ottawa-based satellite operator Telesat, which is launching a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will be able to connect the most remote areas of the country to broadband internet.
The Conservatives tagged in American billionaire Elon Musk, who said he could provide connectivity for less than half that amount.
While Telesat said the exchange on Musk91裸聊视频檚 X platform didn91裸聊视频檛 reflect the reality of the government91裸聊视频檚 deal (for one, Telesat will give up 12 per cent equity in the company), Champagne accused the Conservatives of wanting to 91裸聊视频渟ell out our national security.91裸聊视频�
Musk has become an increasingly controversial and political figure in recent years. A supporter of incoming U.S. president Donald Trump, Musk has been tagged to co-lead a new 91裸聊视频淒epartment of Government Efficiency91裸聊视频� and is emerging as a political force ahead of the presidential inauguration.
Trump has also caused upheaval for Canadian federal and provincial governments with his promise to impose 25 per cent tariffs. He has also repeatedly made references, generally dismissed as jokes, about Canada becoming the 51st state. Musk, meanwhile, recently called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an 91裸聊视频渋nsufferable tool91裸聊视频� in a post on X.
Asked whether his concerns about national security were about Starlink and Musk himself, Champagne responded: 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e met Elon. No, I think it91裸聊视频檚 more about favouring a Canadian champion. It91裸聊视频檚 not about the others, it91裸聊视频檚 about us91裸聊视频e have the chance to have one of the largest companies when it comes to satellite communication.91裸聊视频�
He pointed to the need for secure communications in the north.
91裸聊视频淲e know that having secure communication in the Arctic and the North will be crucial for national security and when it comes to aviation, with navigation in the northern passage,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 important to have sovereignty when it comes to data and data links that may be used in the future.91裸聊视频�
While telecom has always been a mainstay of the industry minister91裸聊视频檚 portfolio, a big part of Champagne91裸聊视频檚 focus has been on artificial intelligence 91裸聊视频� both the promise it holds for Canadian businesses and the need to put regulations in place to contain its dangers.
In 2022, Champagne introduced AI regulation Bill C-27, targeting 91裸聊视频渉igh-impact91裸聊视频� AI systems. The government later proposed amendments to the bill, including a definition of 91裸聊视频渉igh-impact,91裸聊视频� which would include systems used in law enforcement, health care or decisions around employment.
But it still hasn91裸聊视频檛 become law; critics said the government was initially slow to move it through the parliamentary process, as the Liberals prioritized other internet regulation legislation.
Once it did make it to committee for a study, it91裸聊视频檚 been bogged down in the clause-by-clause process that has stretched on since April and saw the Liberals and Conservatives accuse each other of filibustering.
Champagne says he has been in contact with the opposition parties to try to get the bill through.
91裸聊视频淭here have been discussions with parties to say, ok, how can we come together and deliver something that might not be perfect, but that would be better than what we have today.91裸聊视频�
He described those discussions as a 91裸聊视频渨ork in progress.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲e started from a base which was more political, to now something that I hope we can move beyond political lines.91裸聊视频�
AI regulation is part of building trust in the technology, something that Champagne says is necessary to unleash AI as the 91裸聊视频渉oly grail of productivity.91裸聊视频� Champagne has also introduced a voluntary industry code of conduct, and in November launched a research centre that will study the dangers posed by artificial intelligence technology.
91裸聊视频淎nd in order to build trust, you need guardrails, you need a framework. And when you have trust, then you91裸聊视频檙e going to have more adoption, which is going to lead to more innovation. So it91裸聊视频檚 really from fear to opportunity,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚f you and I were to go out in the street today, I think the jury is still out as to how many people would think that AI will be a force for good for humanity.91裸聊视频�
