Debates regarding a controversial ban nationwide continue.
First, we saw the congressional hearings make headlines, quickly followed by massive debates regarding whether Congress can legally ban the popular social media app. Now, states are beginning to take matters into their own hands, with Montana paving the way for others.
On Wednesday, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill to ban TikTok from the state. The Republican governor is the first in the nation to ban the social media app from an entire state.
According to The Daily Caller, The Montana Legislature introduced Senate Bill 419 in late February to respond to the increasing national concerns over TikToks ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the fear the app could be used to steal sensitive information, according to the measure. SB419, sponsored by Montana Republican state Sen. Shelley Vance, passed the Legislature in April.
Gianforte took to Twitter to announce the new law, stating that it will protect Montana citizens private data from the CCP. The law bans anyone from using the social media app within state lines. App stores that violate the law will be slammed with a $10,000 penalty per violation. If the violation continues, itll be an additional $10,000 daily.
TikTok responded to the law via Twitter, declaring that its unconstitutional. According to the Tweet, TikTok claims that the law violates the First Amendment rights of everyone in Montana. It further states that the app empowers hundreds of thousands of people statewide.
TikTok continues under scrutiny nationwide, as it did during the Trump era. Many claim that the Chinese Communist Party can use the app to spy on Americans, including American journalists and government officials. Its already banned on several university campuses and in many government facilities.
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