Montana has become the first U.S. state to pass a
ban on TikTok for all citizens
, forbidding users from downloading the app.
Existing users, however, will be able to keep using the social media platform. Several states had previously banned TikTok but only on government-owned devices.
-
The
bill
, which passed by a vote of 54 to 43, will go into effect in January 2024 after Gov. Greg Gianforte signs it, which he is expected to do.
- The two main reasons for banning the app cited in the bill are surveillance risks and encouraging dangerous activities among youth.
- Companies that do not respect this law will be fined up to $10,000, while similar fines for individuals have not been presented at the moment.
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Some researchers have stated that implementing this new law may pose an issue for the state of Montana for several reasons.
- According to them, it is only possible to enforce this law by knowing the location of the user, which violates their privacy rights.
- Furthermore, they claim that users bypass location-based restrictions by using VPNs.
- TikTok released a public statement saying that the decision violates the First Amendment and that it will actively work to reverse this bill.
Zoom Out:
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TikTok has been at the center of controversy for the last few years. Former President Donald Trump had proposed that the app should be either banned or bought by a U.S. company. During that period, it was
reported that Microsoft was close to
acquiring
the app, but the deal never came to fruition.
-
The app has been
banned
on government devices in many U.S. states and countries worldwide. Countries such as India, however, have banned it altogether.
-
TikTok CEO Shou Chew testified in front of the
U.S
. Congress a month ago, claiming that the app didn't track its users any more than apps such as Facebook and Instagram do.
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