Montana becomes first state to pass full ban on TikTok
Montana has made history by being the first state in the US to pass a law that prohibits the use of TikTok on personal devices.
Montana (TechtUSA) - The state of Montana has passed a bill that prohibits the use of TikTok, citing concerns that the Chinese government may request access to personal data of American users through the app. Montana is the first state to take such action against the popular video-sharing platform.
It will be illegal to download TikTok in Montana in 2024
Under the new bill, it would be illegal to download TikTok in Montana. The legislation imposes hefty fines of up to $10,000 per day on entities such as TikTok, as well as Apple and Google's app stores, that make the app available to users in the state.
The bill, SB 419, has been approved with a vote of 54 to 43. The bill highlights several concerns regarding TikTok, such as claims of surveillance by the Chinese government. It also highlights the promotion of dangerous activities among young TikTok users, including throwing objects at moving vehicles and attempting to put out a fire on a mirror with one's body parts.
The new bill would become effective in January 2024 and would prevent app stores from offering TikTok to users in Montana. In addition, the legislation would prohibit TikTok from operating within the state altogether.
This means that Montana residents would not be able to access TikTok through any means, including downloading the app or using a virtual private network (VPN) to bypass the ban.
Governor Greg Gianforte has the option to either approve the bill and sign it into law, reject it by using his veto power, or do nothing for 10 days after receiving it, allowing it to become law without his signature.
TikTok said in a statement: “We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach.”
Why is Montana banning TikTok?
Recently, there has been a possibility of banning TikTok across the country due to a legal dispute, despite earlier attempts being blocked by courts in 2020.
The main concern revolves around whether or not ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is sharing user data with the Chinese government. The platform has refuted these allegations.
