TikTok hits back at Montana governor after state becomes first to ban app with landmark bill
TIKTOK has hit back at Montana's governor after he banned the app from operating within the state.
Republican Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill into law on Wednesday, making the state the first to ban the social media pp.
The TikTok ban will go into effect in Montana on January 1, 2024.
TikTok responded to news of the ban in a statement to The U.S. Sun.
"Governor Gianforte has signed a bill that infringes on 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.
"We want to reassure Montanans that they can continue using TikTok to express themselves, earn a living, and find community as we continue working to defend the rights of our users inside and outside of Montana."
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The new law follows a federal government and state agency ban on TikTok on government devices in Montana but extends it to personal devices.
"TikTok may not operate within the territorial jurisdiction of Montana," the bill stated.
In addition to banning the app from operating within the state, the new law also prevents companies like Apple and Google from making it available to download.
The law includes potential fines of $10,000 per day for those who violate it.
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Gianforte released a statement following the signing of the bill.
“The Chinese Communist Party using TikTok to spy on Americans, violate their privacy, and collect their personal, private, and sensitive information is well-documented,” Gianforte said.
“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.”
He also tweeted from his personal account: "To protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party, I have banned TikTok in Montana."