Montana Lawmakers Vote to Ban TikTok Statewide
The fight against Chinese-owned TikTok continues to heat up. Legislators in Montana voted Friday to ban the hugely popular short-form video app from operating in the state, Reuters reports(Opens in a new window).
The bill, called SB 419, would prevent app stores like Google Play and Apple’s App Store from listing TikTok for download in Montana. As Reuters notes, the Montana House of Representatives voted 54-43 to approve the ban which, if signed into law by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, would enforce fines on violating app stores.
A spokesperson for Republican Governor Gianforte’s office told Reuters: “The governor will carefully consider any bill the legislature sends to his desk.” As Engadget notes(Opens in a new window), it’s looking likely he’ll approve it; Gianforte has already banned TikTok from state-owned devices. Even if it is approved, however, it won’t go into effect in 2024 and this is before it will be hit with widely-expected legal challenges citing the First Amendment.
TikTok, who did not immediately respond to PCMag’s request for comment, told Reuters: “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.”
TikTok has come under extensive scrutiny from US legislators in recent months because of claims that its Chinese owner ByteDance puts US users' personal data at risk. Lawmakers at both a federal and state level have argued that American data could be shared with the Chinese government. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled last month by a congressional committee on those widely held concerns.
The short-form video app has repeatedly denied these accusations and in a move to gain standing
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