As lawmakers in Washington, D.C. continue to weigh the future of TikTok in the U.S., one state is taking action on its own making it illegal to download or use the app. Montana has become the first state to pass a bill that would ban the popular streaming app TikTok. The new law means that no one in this state will be allowed to download or use TikTok.
The bill was introduced by Republican state representative Braxton Mitchell who argued that TikTok represents a national security risk due to its Chinese ownership. Mitchell believes that the app could be used by the Chinese government to spy on U.S. citizens and gather data on American military personnel.
A group of Republican lawmakers on Monday called for a ban on the use of TikTok by their colleagues in Congress, escalating an attack on the app's Chinese parent company. They argued that the app's Chinese ownership posed a risk to national security.
The move comes as pressure mounts to ban the app nationwide. The Trump administration has been pushing for a ban on TikTok in the U.S. due to concerns over data privacy and national security. A federal judge recently blocked a ban on new downloads of the app, but the case is still ongoing.
In a TikTok video in November, the Love Island star, 24, gave her fans a glimpse into her post-reality show life in her new presenting roles. However, Love Island's Tasha Ghouri had a video removed from her TikTok account after the Advertising Standards Agency complained about the video's content.
Montana's legislature passed a bill that would force app stores like the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store to ban TikTok in the state. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte.
The State University System of Florida Board of Governors has banned the social media app TikTok, along with some other software, due to concerns over data privacy and national security. The board cited the app's Chinese ownership as the reason for the ban.
While the ban in Montana may be the first of its kind, it is unlikely to be the last. Other states are considering similar measures, and the federal government may yet step in to ban the app nationwide.
The move has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the state for taking action to protect national security, while others argue that the ban is an overreaction and an infringement on free speech.
Regardless of one's stance on the issue, it is clear that the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops in the coming weeks and months.
