Governor Gianforte, a Republican, said the bill banning TikTok would further “our shared priority of protecting Montanans from Chinese surveillance,” according to Reuters. The TikTok ban in Montana would take effect on January 1, 2024.
TikTok, which has more than 150 million users in the United States, is struggling in the country, with calls from lawmakers and state officials to ban TikTok nationwide amid concerns about potential Chinese government influence over the platform.
TikTok ban in Montana (USA) takes effect from January 1, 2024
TikTok, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, said in a statement that the bill "violates Montanans' First Amendment rights by unlawfully banning TikTok," adding that it "will protect the rights of our users inside and outside Montana."
ByteDance has previously denied that it has ever shared data with the Chinese government and said the company would not do so if asked.
Officials in Montana, which has a population of just over 1 million, said TikTok could face fines for each violation and an additional $10,000 per day if it violates the ban.
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The short-video sharing app can be downloaded from app stores on devices from Apple Inc. and Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc. Apple and Google could also be fined $10,000 per day if they violate the ban.
Montana will make it illegal for Google and Apple app stores to offer the TikTok app within the state's borders, Reuters reported.
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