TikTok has mostly been in the news centered on controversies in the US. And yet again, Montana is the first US state to impose a ban on TikTok which will take effect from January 1, 2024.
The SB 419 bill was signed by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte today and will require mobile app stores to remove the app form their listings for Montana residents starting next year.
Governor Gianforte claims TikTok is “tied to foreign adversaries” and is providing significant amounts of user data to the Chinese Communist Party. TikTok was previously prohibited from government-issued devices in the state of Montana.
TikTok is just one app tied to foreign adversaries. Today I directed the state’s Chief Information Officer to ban any application that provides personal information or data to foreign adversaries from the state network. pic.twitter.com/92Im6D9Jgx
— Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) May 17, 2023
Montana residents will still be able to use the app even after the ban kicks in. If the app is still available to download after January 1, 2024 both the app store operators and TikTok will be penalized $10,000 per day by the state of Montana.
— TikTokComms (@TikTokComms) May 18, 2023
TikTok issued an official comment claiming the signed bill goes against the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana. TikTok is expected to appeal the bill in court.
