Montana is the first U.S. state to impose a ban on TikTok that will take effect January 1, 2024. Bill SB 419 was signed into law today by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and will require mobile app stores to remove the app from their listings for Montana residents starting next year.
Governor Gianforte says TikTok is “tied with foreign adversaries” and is supplying significant amounts of user data to the Chinese Communist Party. TikTok was previously banned from government-issued devices in the state of Montana.
TikTok is just an app tied to foreign opponents. 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’s 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 goes into effect. If the app is still available for download after January 1, 2024, both app store operators and TikTok will be penalized $10,000 per day by the state of Montana.
— TikTokComms (@TikTokComms) May 18, 2023
TikTok released an official comment stating that the signed bill goes against the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana. TikTok is expected to appeal the bill in court.
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