Montana becomes first U.S state to ban TikTok: Why?

The state of Montana has signed a bill prohibiting TikTok use in the state.

The governor of Montana, Greg Gianforte, signed the bill on Wednesday, May 17 to ban the short-form video app, TikTok from operating inside the state over concerns about the app's ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance.

"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,” Mr. Gianforte, said in a news release.

A spokesperson for the popular Chinese-owned app responded by accusing Gianforte of signing a bill that violates the rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok, a platform that empowers hundreds of thousands of people across the state.

Under the legislation, TikTok could face fines if it continues operating in the state, as could Apple and Google if they allow people to download the app.

The ban is to take effect Jan 1, 2024, and is almost certain to face legal challenges.

Earlier, TikTok issued a statement saying that the new law "infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok," and said it will "continue working to defend the rights of our users inside and outside of Montana."

TikTok, which has over 150 million American users, has faced growing calls from U.S. lawmakers and state officials to ban the app nationwide over concerns about potential Chinese government influence over the platform.

The app has become wildly popular with teens. According to the Pew Research Center, 67% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 use TikTok, and 16% of all teens say they use the app almost constantly. TikTok has said that the "vast majority" of its users are over the age of 18.

In March, a congressional committee grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about whether the Chinese government could access user data or influence what Americans see on the app. But calls to ban TikTok nationwide or give the Biden administration new powers to crack down or ban TikTok have not advanced in Congress.

Gianforte, a Republican, said the bill will further "our shared priority to protect Montanans from Chinese Communist Party surveillance."

TikTok has repeatedly denied that it has ever shared data with the Chinese government and has said the company would not do so if asked.