The ban comes amid growing scrutiny of TikTok in the US and its allied nations. Politicians are particularly worried about the app’s ties to Beijing, expressing concerns that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could access US user data and spread nationalist propaganda. While the US government has yet to provide concrete evidence of alleged wrongdoings, the RESTRICT Act aims to completely ban TikTok in the US, a goal that Montana seems to have achieved.
Critics argue that the ban infringes on Americans’ digital rights and have voiced concerns about potential consequences. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Montana stated that the ban undermines the free speech rights of Montanans who use TikTok for self-expression, information gathering, and running their small businesses. However, Governor Gianforte and the Montana legislature maintain that the ban is necessary to protect Montanans from Chinese Communist Party surveillance.
