Montana Becomes the First State to Entirely Ban TikTok

On Wednesday, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed a law making it illegal for TikTok to operate in the state. The bill will become effective on Jan. 1, 2024.

Key Points: The bill will punish TikTok and app stores that make the app available to Montana residents up to $10,000 for each violation, and then up to $10,000 each day the violation continues. It's expected to face legal challenges, and raises questions about whether Montana can enforce the law and concerns over the limiting of free speech.

Key Quotes: “The Chinese Communist Party using TikTok to spy on Americans, violate their privacy, and collect their personal, private, and sensitive information is well-documented,” said Gianforte in a statement. “Today, Montana takes the most decisive action of any state to protect Montanans’ private data and sensitive personal information.”

For Context: Some states have banned the app on government devices, but Montana is the first state to entirely ban TikTok due to bipartisan security concerns that the Chinese government could harvest U.S. user data through the app. Montana reportedly has 200,000 TikTok users, and roughly 6,000 Montana businesses use the video-sharing platform.

How the Media Covered it: Sources across the political spectrum covered Montana's TikTok ban, with some right-rated and center-rated sources noting that the ACLU said the law is "unconstitutional" and "tramples on free speech."