Montana Governor Bans All Social Media That Provides Certain Data To US Enemy

The governor of Montana, Greg Gianforte, is working to expand the social media ban law. (photo: Twitter @GovGianforte)

JAKARTA - Montana Governor Greg Gianforte is seeking to expand a law that will ban not only TikTok, but also other social media apps that provide specific data to foreign enemies. The news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, April 25.

This month, Montana lawmakers passed a law, known as SB 419, to ban TikTok, which is owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance, operating in the state.

Alphabet Inc's TikTok and Apple Inc and Google, which operate mobile app stores, will face fines if they violate the ban, of course if the law becomes legal.

The plan proposed by the governor in a broader law would remove the responsibility of the app store to offer the social media app for download in the state, the WSJ reported, citing the revised draft law.

TikTok is faced with growing demands from some US lawmakers to ban the app across the country due to concerns about the potential Chinese government's influence on the platform.

The short video app has repeatedly denied ever sharing data with the Chinese government and said the company would not do so if requested. Meanwhile, the governor's office and TikTok did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.