Montana Is The First State To Fully Ban TikTok – SlashGear

On the legal side of things, the bill claims that TikTok’s theft of user data and subsequent sharing with the Chinese government violates Montana’s privacy laws and that the social media platform acts as an espionage tool to keep an eye on government officials and journalists among other high-value targets. Once the ban goes into effect, the app would be pulled from mobile repositories like Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store to block downloads, and entities that violate the ban could face up to $10,000 in penalty.

The ban on TikTok is a notable move, but not entirely shocking. In December 2022, Gianforte imposed a ban on installing TikTok on state-issued equipment citing the app’s aggressive data harvesting tactics and the resulting alleged national security risks. Just over a week later, the governor also asked that the Montana University System (MUS) ban the usage of TikTok on educational campuses and on its networks, claiming that “even downloading TikTok is a massive security threat.”

Over the past year, multiple states and government agencies have prohibited TikTok on devices issued by the state over similar concerns. TikTok, on the other hand, argues that the bill violates the “First Amendment rights of the people of Montana.” In a statement shared with Reuters, TikTok says it will fight for its users in Montana and challenge the law. The company is yet to outline the exact methodology it will employ to negate the ban.