Montana Becomes the First U.S. State to Ban TikTok
Montana has banned TikTok, making it the first U.S. state to take this action. If the bill passes, the ban will go into effect on January 1, 2024. TikTok, however, has stated its commitment to defending users’ access rights.
TikTok’s History
TikTok is a social media platform that has 1 billion users. Influencers, celebrities, and users alike have come together on the platform, which grew in popularity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Jamal Brown, a TikTok spokesperson, has cited that Montana is home to 200,000 users and 6,000 businesses on TikTok.
TikTok is owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance. This fact has led to concerns that the platform could be a national security threat due to its data collection policies. This threat led the to U.S. ban TikTok on government-issued devices in March.
On March 23, TikTok Ceo Shou Chew testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He shared details about data collection and safety on the platform as the U.S. was considering a national ban on the app.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce about data and safety on the social media platform as the US considers a ban on the app.
— Bloomberg (@business) March 23, 2023
Here are the key moments you need to see 👇 https://t.co/n9qmfbvtqf pic.twitter.com/8pza53O4ro
The Ban
This week, Montana became the first state to ban TikTok. The bill is expected to face legal challenges, but if it passes it will go into effect January 1, 2024. The law would ban app stores from making the app available for download in Montana.
State Governor Greg Gianforte, who signed the bill into law, wrote in a statement, “Today, Montana takes the most decisive action of any state to protect Montanans’ private data and sensitive personal information from being harvested by the Chinese Communist Party.”
Gianforte added on Twitter, “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.”
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
TikTok responded to the ban, stating, “Governor Gianforte has signed a bill that infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok, a platform that empowers hundreds of thousands of people across the state. We want to reassure Montanans that they can continue using TikTok to express themselves, earn a living and find community as we continue working to defend the rights of our users inside and outside of Montana.”
The Future
According to the Associated Press, if TikTok or the app store offered users the ability to access or download the platform, Montana would be able to fine them $10,000 per day. Fines would not be imposed on individual users.
This ban is a landmark action that could lead other states to follow suit in attempting to ban the platform. For now, the future of TikTok in Montana and the U.S. as a nation is up in the air.
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