Montana Makes History as First State to Ban TikTok in the US

By: Dan Cooper

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Montana Bans TikTok Due to Safety and Security Concerns

Montana has become the first state in the United States to ban TikTok, the social media platform of Chinese origin. The ban was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte in order to protect the personal and private data of Montana residents from the Chinese Communist Party.

The state legislature previously passed a measure to prohibit TikTok use on mobile devices by Montana residents. This ban goes beyond the veto implemented by the federal government and half of the states that only prohibits public officials from using the app.

There are concerns that TikTok could be used by Beijing for espionage purposes, as the app is owned by Chinese company ByteDance. This has caused alarm among members of Congress, state officials, and the FBI. Although the Chinese government has security laws that can force tech companies to share data, ByteDance has assured users that measures have been put in place to protect user data.

The Joe Biden administration has threatened the ban of TikTok in the entire United States if ByteDance does not sell its stake in the company. TikTok has gained popularity particularly among teenagers and has 100 million users in the United States alone.

The ban in Montana highlights concerns over safety and security in using social media platforms owned by companies in countries with different regulations regarding data sharing and privacy. It could set a precedent for other states to follow suit and potentially lead to more widespread bans.

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