US State, Montana Now Bans Use of TikTok

JAKARTA - Governor of Montana Greg Gianforte signed a law (UU) banning the use of the TikTok application in the country.

As in other countries, the reason for banning the use of TikTok in Montana is because lawmakers claim that TikTok's relationship with ByteDance, which is in China, could put US users' personal data at risk.

The law, which is scheduled to go into effect in 2024, prohibits the company from operating in the state and requires app stores to block users in Montana from downloading TikTok.

App users will face no repercussions for using the service, but app stores and TikTok face daily fines of USD 10.000 or around IDR 148 million for violating the law.

In a statement, a spokesperson for TikTok commented that the Montana law "unlawfully" violates its users' First Amendment rights.

"Governor Gianforte has signed into law that violates the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok, a platform that empowers hundreds of thousands of people across the state," a TikTok spokesperson said, citing Engadget.

“We want to assure Montana residents that they can continue to use TikTok to express themselves, earn a living, and find community as we continue to work to defend the rights of our users in and outside of Montana,” he added.

Previously, at its first congressional hearing in March, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew denied that his app was being used to collect and share user data with the Chinese Communist Party, as alleged.

But officials say those efforts are not enough, and the US government is now trying to force ByteDance to sell TikTok.

Otherwise, TikTok will face a nationwide ban and, possibly, another massive legal battle.