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Montana has introduced a ban on TikTok, becoming the first US state to do so. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Montana is now the first US state to introduce a ban on TikTok. Governor Greg Gianforte signed the measure into law on Wednesday. In a statement, he explained that the reason behind the ban is:
To protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party.”
Lawmakers in Montana and other states have concerns about possible influence from the Chinese government over TikTok. The social media platform is owned by Byte-Dance, which has denied sharing data with the Chinese government and said that it would never do so in the future. Nevertheless, those concerned with the app are worried about the spread of misinformation and accessibility to user data.
Montana’s ban on the app will not come into place until January 1, 2024. TikTok users won’t be on the receiving end of punishment if they contravene the law, but Apple and Google will face significant fines if they continue offering the app in the state.
It appears that TikTok may legally challenge this measure. It issued a statement saying that the new law in Montana “infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok.” More than 150 million Americans currently use the app.
