TikTok: Montana becomes first US state to ban video-sharing app on personal devices

TikTok: Montana becomes first US state to ban video-sharing app on personal devices

Montana has become the first state in the US to ban Chinese-owned popular video-sharing platform TikTok from personal devices.

The state’s Republican governor Greg Gianforte signed legislation prohibiting mobile application stores from offering the app.

The legislation makes it illegal for app stores to offer TikTok, but does not prevent those who already have the app from using it.

The new law prohibits downloads of TikTok in the state and would fine any “entity” – an app store or TikTok – $10,000 per day each time someone “is offered the ability” to access the social media platform or download the app. The penalties would not apply to users.

The measure is due to take effect from 1 January 2024, and is expected to be challenged legally.

TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance, has been under intense scrutiny over concerns it could hand over user data to the Chinese government or push pro-Beijing propaganda and misinformation on the platform.

TikTok says none of this has ever happened.

“Today, Montana takes the most decisive action of any state to protect Montanans’ private data and sensitive personal information from being harvested by the Chinese Communist Party,” said Mr Gianforte after signing the legislation on Wednesday.