The Canadian government has shut down the operations of the Chinese-owned TikTok business in the country.

The government ordered the ban on Wednesday, citing national security risks.

François-Philippe Champagne, the country’s industry minister, in a statement, clarified that the ban includes the closure of “TikTok’s offices in Toronto and Vancouver, while Canadians can continue using the mobile app with caution.

“The government is not blocking Canadians’ access to TikTok application or blocking their ability to create content. The decision to use a social media app or platform is a personal choice.

“The government’s action is to address the specific national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd’s operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.”

TikTok has been facing intensifying scrutiny from America and Europe over security and data privacy.