[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a measure prohibiting TikTok on Wednesday, with the law slated to take effect on January 1, 2024.
The Chinese-owned video-sharing platform has sparked privacy worries, with politicians in Washington increasingly asking for a broader prohibition.
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“To protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party, I have banned TikTok in Montana,” Gianforte tweeted.
What Does the Montana Tiktok Ban Mean?
The state intends to penalise businesses such as Apple and Google $10,000 for each day TikTok remains available in their storefronts.
According to a copy of the law posted on the state’s website, “a user accesses TikTok, is offered the ability to access TikTok, or is offered the ability to download TikTok” is a violation.
Users, on the other hand, will not be penalised.
If TikTok is sold to a corporation not based in “any country designated as a foreign adversary” by the US government, the Montana prohibition will be rendered null and void.
How Has TikTok Responded?
According to Brooke Oberwetter, a spokesman for the social networking platform, the law violates people’s right to free expression.
In a statement, Oberwetter said:
We want to reassure Montanans that they can continue to use TikTok to express themselves, earn a living, and discover community as we work to protect our users’ rights both inside and outside of Montana.
TikTok was generally expected to bring a lawsuit, but Oberwetter declined to indicate if the business will do so.
TikTok previously stated that Beijing did not interfere with its operations.
TikTok has been under investigation by US authorities since 2020. Before his order was blocked by federal courts, then-President Donald Trump attempted to stop the corporation from functioning in the country.
Some US states, such as Utah and Arkansas, have passed legislation requiring parental permission for children and teenagers to use social media.
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