Montana became the first state in the U.S. to completely ban TikTok on Wednesday when the state’s Republican governor signed a measure that’s more sweeping than any other state’s attempts to curtail the social media app.

The measure is expected to be challenged legally and will serve as a testing ground for the TikTok-free America that many national lawmakers have envisioned.

Some lawmakers, the FBI and officials at other agencies are concerned the video-sharing app, owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance, could be used to allow the Chinese government to access information on American citizens or push pro-Beijing misinformation that could influence the public. TikTok says none of this has ever happened.

When Montana banned the app on government-owned devices in late December, Gov. Greg Gianforte said TikTok posed a “significant risk” to sensitive state data. More than half of U.S. states and the federal government have a similar ban.

Gianforte signed the legislation after it easily passed through Montana’s GOP-controlled Legislature.

Montana’s new law prohibits downloads of TikTok in the state and would fine any “entity” — an app store or TikTok — $10,000 per day for each time someone “is offered the ability” to access the social media platform or download the app. The penalties would not apply to users.

Opponents argue this is government overreach and say Montana residents could easily circumvent the ban by using a virtual private network, a service that shields internet users by encrypting their data traffic, preventing others from observing their web browsing and other activities. Montana state officials say geofencing technology is used with online sports gambling apps, which are deactivated in states where online gambling is illegal.

TikTok, which has said it has a plan to protect U.S. users, has vowed to fight back against the ban, along with small business owners who said they use the app for advertising to help grow their businesses and reach more customers. The ACLU of Montana opposed the bill, arguing it was an unconstitutional restriction of free speech.

The app’s fun, goofy videos and ease of use has made it immensely popular, and U.S. tech giants like Snapchat and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, see it as a competitive threat.

SOURCE

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7653466/montana-passes-bill-blocking-tiktok#122521424

Americans just dey jealous..

The Chinese write better algo.

We shall mine and sell your information

Do you want to proceed?

YES. QUIT.

How about the right to keep and bear arms...When will they look into that

Wetin e do them

Note- they did not ban citizens from using the app, only people who hold top Government offices, i.e Government officials. Before people wey dey read back of phone go come here come type nonsense.

Lol TikTok must av show the state Lawmakers Alot of Shege....

The way this TikTok is even bringing out the stupidity in people is what I don't understand...

Good.....I no know what benefits wey tiktok don bring to guyman life apart from those small small bannies wey dey shake their small small nyash upandan . I pray such a law is brought down here

Nice

tiktok dey give facebook run for its money,thats why dem wan ban am from U.S.A

VPN go sale wela

Yes!

Lol

Good one
Most of these tiktok challenges have done more harm than good....

Infact...social media as a whole

Nice one u.s state of Montana
Hopefully other states can follow suit
China does not allow any American made app in China
Chinese made app should not be allowed in USA too

🤡🤡🤡

SaintJen:
That app has some negative effects

too addictive

Ok

Good move, i hope other states follow. The china government so wicked and selfish, they want other nations to use their social media apps yet blocking its citizens from using other nation social media platforms.

Great minds

Protection of interest.

more might follow

Okay

I support the ban!

I have seen many useless wives/Singles post nonsense there!

I have seen many evil there!

Ok

Chidyka:
Note- they did not ban citizens from using the app, only people who hold top Government offices, i.e Government officials. Before people wey dey read back of phone go come here come type nonsense.

😂

People wey dey read back of phone 😂🤣😆