On Wednesday, Montana became the first US state to ban TikTok. Read to know more about the law that will come to effect next year.
Montana bans TikTok and forces app stores to remove the app
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a prohibition into law banning the Chinese-owned platform. “TikTok may not operate within the territorial jurisdiction of Montana,” stated the law. This also makes “a user accesses TikTok, is offered the ability to access TikTok, or is offered the ability to download TikTok” a violation. Every violation is also punishable with a per-day fine of $10,000. Under the new law, Google and Apple must remove the app from their respective app stores or face daily fines.
The move is likely to face challenges from lawsuits. As per Keegan Medrano, some leaders “trampled on the free speech of hundreds of thousands of Montanans who use the app to express themselves, gather information, and run their small business in the name of anti-Chinese sentiment”. Medrano is the policy director for ACLU Montana. Additionally, the state’s clampdown comes as the platform is facing proposals for nationwide legislation.
More on the new law
The ban will take effect next year. However, it can be voided if a company that is not designated as a foreign adversary by the US acquires TikTok. It is currently owned by ByteDance, a Chinese firm. The firm is accused of being under the Chinese government’s tutelage by several US politicians. They also claim it is Beijing’s tool for espionage which the company has been denying. Moreover, the platform went on record, stating that the ban’s constitutionality will be decided by the courts.
“Governor Gianforte has signed a bill that infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok,” stated a spokesperson for the platform. “We also 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,” they added.