Montana's governor becomes the first in the United States to enforce a complete ban on TikTok. Dive into the legal implications, user reactions, and broader debates surrounding this historic move in social media regulation.
Montana's Governor Greg Gianforte has officially enacted a ban on TikTok by signing a bill, thus becoming the inaugural state in the United States to prohibit the widely-used social media platform. This historic decision comes after the bill successfully passed through the state's legislature, marking a notable turning point. While the ban is slated to be implemented in 2024, potential legal hurdles loom, potentially influencing the timing and execution of the prohibition.
The new law explicitly forbids TikTok from operating within the state and requires app stores to block users in Montana from downloading the platform. While TikTok users themselves won't face direct repercussions for utilizing the app, both app stores and TikTok could be subject to daily fines of $10,000 if they violate the ban.
This statewide ban, along with the anticipated legal battle surrounding it, offers a glimpse into the potential future landscape of attempts to restrict or ban TikTok across the country. In response to the ban, a TikTok spokesperson expressed concerns about the violation of users' First Amendment rights, stating that the Montana’s governor law unlawfully restricts a platform that empowers hundreds of thousands of individuals statewide.