Key takeaways:
- Montana has become the first state to ban the popular social media app TikTok.
- The bill makes it illegal for app stores to offer downloads of the app and for the company to operate within the state.
- The move is seen as a testing ground for the TikTok-free America many national lawmakers envision due to concerns over potential Chinese spying.
Montana has become the first state to ban the popular social media app TikTok, with the state House of Representatives giving final passage to the bill on Friday. The bill, SB 419, makes it illegal for app stores to offer downloads of the app and for the company to operate within the state.
The move is the most significant action yet by a state against the app, and is likely to face legal challenges. It goes further than prohibitions in place in nearly half the states and the U.S. federal government, which only prohibit TikTok on government-owned devices.
The bill passed by a vote of 54-43, but a previous version of the bill sought to force internet providers to block TikTok, which was later removed. The bill does not, however, make it illegal for people who already have TikTok to use the app.
The move is seen as a testing ground for the TikTok-free America many national lawmakers envision due to concerns over potential Chinese spying. It remains to be seen whether other states will follow Montana’s lead and enact similar bans on the app.
The bill’s passage is likely to be met with legal challenges, as it could be seen as a violation of the First Amendment. It is unclear how the bill will be enforced, and whether it will be able to withstand legal scrutiny.
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