Sadly for TikTok, the US hasn’t been giving the social media app much breathing space in its territory. We’ve been hearing stories here and there about the TikTok ban in the US and a US state just moved it to the next level. The US State, supposedly Montana, votes to ban TikTok and there’s a further deterrent for violating the ban.
Montana votes to ban TikTok: further details
“Montana votes to ban TikTok” reports came in via Wall Street journal. According to the source, the lawmakers of the state voted in favor to ban social media apps. The bill will be passed to the Governor and after signing, Montana will go in the records as the first state to issue a state ban on TikTok.
The fine for violation of the bill is $10000 as reported by the Wall street journal. The China-based company will cease operation in the Montana territory on January 1, 2024. That said, Wall Street Journal also mentions that “It’s unclear how some elements of the legislation would be enforced”.
There’s uncertainty about whether the Montana Governor, Greg Gianforte, will sign the bill. However, the odds are very low given that the app is already banned from government-issued devices and also in the universities of the state. This ban is something some other countries in the world have followed suit.
As Montana votes to ban TikTok in their territory, any violation will not be blamed on users but will be put on the channel via which the social media app was downloaded, be it the Apple store or Play store, according to Associate Press. The Montana lawmakers are proud to be the pacesetter in the TikTok ban across the country. According to the Attorney, the app is a medium via which the Chinese spy on Montanans.
In reaction to the bill, TikTok says that it will “continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach.” Meanwhile, Apple and Google are still quiet about the $10,000 fine. Let’s see how the whole thing will play out in the long run.
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