Complete TikTok Ban Bill In Montana Receives Final Approval

The US state of Montana is about to become the first to completely prohibit TikTok from functioning within its boundaries. According to an AP source, the law was finally approved on Friday with 54 in favor to 43 against.

Although it is anticipated that this move would be challenged in court, it might also act as a trial run for an America without TikTok.

More than Restrictions
The proposed Montana ban on TikTok goes beyond the limitations previously imposed by over half of the states and the US federal government, which forbid TikTok use on equipment owned by the government.

The legislation won’t take effect until January 2024 if it is approved and needs to be signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte.

Additionally, if Congress passed a ban or TikTok severed its ties to China, the prohibition would be lifted.

Gianforte forbade the use of TikTok on state government devices in 2022 due to the app’s potential harm to confidential state data.

Brooke Oberwetter, a spokesperson for TikTok, has pledged to challenge the constitutionality of the law, claiming that its proponents have no real plan for enforcing it and that it is an attempt to silence American voices.

People who support the Montana law cite two Chinese policies that force businesses to assist the government with state intelligence operations.

In December 2020, ByteDance fired four employees for obtaining the IP addresses and other data of two journalists in order to determine the source of a leaked narrative about the company. They also bring up this incident.

Any “entity” that gives users the choice to browse or download the app, such as an app store or TikTok, would be subject to a fine of $10,000 per day under the proposed legislation, which would make it illegal to download TikTok in Montana. The proposed penalty would not apply to users though.

US Mistrust on Chinese-owned TikTok

Due to concerns that TikTok, which is controlled by the Chinese company ByteDance, would disclose user data to the Chinese government or spread propaganda and false information in favor of Beijing, it has drawn a lot of attention.

Leaders of the FBI and CIA, as well as senators from both political parties, have expressed worry, but there is no hard evidence to back up these assertions.

Although the planned ban on TikTok in Montana is expected to face legal opposition, it might serve as a springboard for national lawmakers who are advocating for a TikTok-free America due to worries about potential Chinese espionage.

In the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and other countries, TikTok has previously been prohibited from being used on devices owned by the government.

For politicians who have been advocating for a TikTok ban in the nation since since former president Donald Trump made an attempt to do so in 2020, the most recent development in Montana may just be good news.

Complete TikTok Ban Bill In Montana Receives Final Approval

The US state of Montana is about to become the first to completely prohibit TikTok from functioning within its boundaries. According to an AP source, the law was finally approved on Friday with 54 in favor to 43 against.

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