Montana bans TikTok over security and privacy concerns.

Montana Becomes First State to Ban TikTok

Protecting Montanans’ Private Data and Personal Information

Montana has taken a decisive step to protect its citizens’ privacy by becoming the first state to completely ban TikTok. Republican Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill into law on Thursday, prohibiting app stores from making TikTok available for download in the state. The move comes as state lawmakers accuse China of using the social media app to spy on Americans and steal their data.

“The Chinese Communist Party using TikTok to spy on Americans, violate their privacy, and collect their personal, private, and sensitive information is well-documented,” Gianforte said. “Today, Montana takes the most decisive action of any state to protect Montanans’ private data and sensitive personal information from being harvested by the Chinese Communist Party.”

The bill was sponsored by Republican state Sen. Shelley Vance, who called TikTok “a major threat to our national security.” The app is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, and has been accused of allowing the communist country access to data on Americans.

Penalties for Violators

Entities, including TikTok or an app store, could be fined $10,000 every time someone accesses the app in the state or downloads it. Penalties will be enforced by the Montana Department of Justice.

“I appreciate Attorney General [Austin] Knudsen and Senator Vance for their partnership on this important measure and for advancing our shared priority to protect Montanans from Chinese Communist Party surveillance,” Gianforte said.

Legal Challenges and Reassurances from TikTok

The law is expected to face legal challenges, including from some free speech groups. However, Governor Gianforte remains committed to protecting Montanans’ privacy and personal information.

“To protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party, I have banned TikTok in Montana,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter reassured Montanans that they can continue using the app to express themselves, earn a living, and find community. However, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has concluded that TikTok poses meaningful national security risks.

CFIUS ordered ByteDance in March to sell the platform or face a nationwide ban. The agency initially concluded after a national security review in 2020 that TikTok could “impair the national security of the United States,” a revelation that nearly prompted former President Donald Trump to ban the platform via executive order.

Key Takeaways

• Montana has become the first state to completely ban TikTok.
• The law prohibits app stores from making TikTok available for download in the state.
• Entities, including TikTok or an app store, could be fined $10,000 every time someone accesses the app in the state or downloads it.
• The law is expected to face legal challenges, including from some free speech groups.
• The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has concluded that TikTok poses meaningful national security risks.

Despite the legal challenges, Montana’s ban on TikTok sends a strong message to other states and the federal government that protecting citizens’ privacy and personal information is a top priority.