Montana has become the first state to pass a bill banning TikTok, requiring app stores to block the app in the state. The bill, which passed by a vote of 54-43, will now go to Republican Governor Greg Gianforte, who has previously banned the app from state-owned devices.
The ban is set to take effect in 2024, but it is likely to face legal challenges before then. Nonetheless, the bill has been closely watched as pressure continues to mount on TikTok. The CEO of TikTok, Shou Chew, recently testified at a Congressional hearing where he attempted to downplay the company’s ties to ByteDance and China, but his efforts were largely unsuccessful.
The US government is also attempting to force ByteDance to divest from TikTok entirely. The New York Times has noted that Montana’s ban could serve as a model for the rest of the country, although it remains to be seen whether such bans will be upheld in court.
The Montana bill, like federal lawmakers, claims that TikTok’s ties to ByteDance put US users’ personal data at risk because the company could be forced to turn over information to the Chinese government. TikTok has denied these claims and has committed more than a billion dollars to Project Texas, a project aimed at addressing national security concerns.
TikTok has argued that the proposed ban in Montana would harm small businesses that rely on the app. In a statement following the bill’s passage, a TikTok spokesperson called it “egregious government overreach” and said that the company planned to “fight” the measure.
“The bill’s champions have admitted that they have no feasible plan for operationalizing this attempt to censor American voices, and that the bill’s constitutionality will be decided by the courts. 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,” the spokesperson said.
While the ban on TikTok in Montana may be a significant development, it is only the latest twist in the ongoing controversy surrounding the app’s ties to China and national security concerns. As the legal battles continue to play out, it remains to be seen whether other states will follow Montana’s lead and take action against TikTok.
