Montana becomes first state to ban TikTok

Montana officially banned the globally popular social media app TikTok Friday, which would impact "nearly all devices in the state," Gizmodo reports.

Per The Wall Street Journal, the "first-of-its-kind" ban backed by state House lawmakers "will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024," and prevent the app, which is owned by China, "from operating within the state," in addition to prohibiting "app stores from offering TikTok within the state."

Additionally, the WSJ reports the ban "would fine any entity violating this law $10,000 per violation," although it remains "unclear how some elements of the legislation would be enforced."

READ MORE: House approves ban of TikTok on government devices

Montana state GOP Sen. Shelley Vance, co-author of the bill, argued,"TikTok endangers the safety of Montanans and Americans at large."

She continued, "We know that beyond a doubt that TikTok's parent company ByteDance is operating as a surveillance arm of the Chinese Communist Party and gathers information about Americans against their will."

Less than one month ago, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted her first TikTok explaining why she remains against TikTok bans, emphasizing, "The U.S. has never before banned a social media company from existence from operating in our borders, and this is an app that has over 150 million Americans on it."

Furthermore, U.S. State Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) argued last month "prohibiting Americans from accessing Tiktok means that the US may "emulate China’s speech bans," noting the app is already banned in China.

READ MORE: 'Don't use them': Rand Paul warns the US will 'emulate China' by banning apps like TikTok

Gizmodo reports:

Montana's state senate already approved the bill back in March, meaning the only thing preventing it from becoming law is a signature from governor and known journalist body-slammer Greg Gianforte. Once signed, the ban will take effect in January 2024. However, the bill would become void if Congress enacts its own national TikTok ban. The bill also wouldn't apply if TikTok divests its US business from Chinese ownership.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is against the ban, according to Gizmodo, arguing it "would violate the First Amendment and be a disaster for freedom of expression."

Jenna Leventoff, ACLU enior policy counsel said the legislation "is censorship, plain and simple. Montanans deserve better than to have their representatives violate their free speech rights by cutting them off from a unique platform that allows them to speak their minds, exchange information, and learn new things."

Likewise, a spokesperson for TikTok told Gizmodo, "We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach."

READ MORE: How a TikTok ban could actually benefit China: WaPo editorial board

Gizmodo's full report is available at this link. The Wall Street Journal's report is here (subscription required).