A spokesperson for the Chinese social network denied that the claims were supported by evidence and stated that "TikTok has never shared Canadian user data with the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked."

The head of Canada's Security Intelligence Service warned Canadians about using the video app TikTok, noting that data collected from its users "is available to the government of China," CBC News reported this Friday. .

"My response as director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is that there is a very clear strategy by the Government of China to be able to acquire personal information from anyone around the world," said CSIS Director David Vigneault to CBC in an interview that will air publicly on Saturday.

While a TikTok spokesperson responded to this statement and clarified that, “these claims are not supported by evidence, and the fact is that TikTok has never shared Canadian user data with the Chinese government, nor would we if asked.”

Canada in September ordered a national security review of a proposal by TikTok to expand the short video app's business in the country. Vigneault said he will participate in that review and offer advice, the CBC reported.

"We will continue to collaborate with Canadian authorities and would like the opportunity to meet with CSIS to discuss how we protect the privacy and security of citizens," the spokesperson added.

TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court this month to block a law signed by President Joe Biden that would force them to divest from the short-video app used by 170 million Americans.

The law, signed by Biden on April 24, gives ByteDance until January 19 to sell TikTok or face a ban. The White House has said it wants an end to Chinese ownership for national security reasons, but not a ban on TikTok.