City of Hamilton, police service remove TikTok from their devices

The City of Hamilton and Hamilton Police Service will remove TikTok from their devices, mirroring moves from the federal government and some provinces.

Hamilton's decision came just two days after the city told CBC Hamilton it was considering what it would do with the app.

A March 3 communication update from the city's communications director to councillors and staff states while the city's information technology division didn't find any specific security risks, it will ban the app anyway "out of an abundance of caution."

"The city's communications TikTok account will be paused and made dormant while staff await [the] result of the Federal Office of the Privacy Commissioner probe alongside privacy regulators from provinces of Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta," according to the communication update.

Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman told CBC Hamilton on Monday the police service is removing the app from its devices starting March 6, because it is "pausing activity on our TikTok account until a review by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and several provincial authorities is complete."

Two weeks ago, Canada's federal privacy regulator, along with three provincial counterparts, launched a joint probe of the platform's collection, use and disclosure of users' personal information.

Mona Fortier, president of the Treasury Board, said in a statement the chief information officer determined the app "presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security."

After the federal government banned the app on government devices, other provinces and cities followed suit.

The City of Hamilton's communications update states it was piloting the app as a way to reach residents in a "new, fun way."

"Staff met with TikTok staff in December 2022 to set up the account, and at that time discussed related news from the United States and concerns about security," reads the update.

"City staff also led a Canada-wide environmental scan to determine use of TikTok by government and felt comfortable based on accounts that were active across Canada."

WATCH: Your whole network can be target of social media apps, says former CSIS agent:

Your whole network can be target of social media apps, says former CSIS agent

2 years ago

Duration 1:51

Social media apps like TikTok can use your device as a conduit to other people's personal information, says Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former senior intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

Penman didn't say if police did a risk assessment before creating an account and using the app, but noted they started using the app to "reach youth who were isolated at home due to pandemic restrictions and may be experiencing abusive situations."

She also said police will continue to use TikTok when conducting investigations, where necessary.

McMaster University and Mohawk College previously said they were watching any next moves closely.

Vass Bednar, executive director of the master of public policy in digital society program at McMaster University, previously told CBC the federal government's move was "frustrating" because none of the information about the app's privacy seems to be new.

"I'd like to know why now ... I think we're jumping on a bit of a bandwagon," Bednar said.

"I like to see government moving quickly on digital policy, but I don't appreciate something that can seem empty, you know — a gesture that doesn't have enough behind it, frankly."