Montana becomes the first US state to ban TikTok

Montana will make it illegal for Google and Apple app stores to offer the TikTok app within its borders.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a law on May 17 banning TikTok from operating in the state, making Montana the first US state to ban the popular short video app .

Montana will make it illegal for Google and Apple app stores to offer the TikTok app within its borders. The ban goes into effect January 1, 2024.

Montana said TikTok could face fines for each violation and an additional $10,000 per day for violating the ban .

Additionally, Apple and Google could also be fined $10,000 per violation per day if their online app stores violate the ban.

Mr. Gianforte also wants to ban the use of all social media apps that collect, provide personal information or data to foreign adversaries on government- issued devices.

Following the news, TikTok - an app owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance - issued a statement saying the bill "violates the First Amendment rights of Montanans by unlawfully banning TikTok." At the same time, TikTok affirmed that it "will protect the rights of users inside and outside Montana."

Observers also said that Montana's ban could face many objections that it violates users' freedom of speech, which is defined in the First Amendment.

Former President Donald Trump's 2020 attempt to ban Americans from downloading the TikTok and WeChat apps was blocked by multiple courts and never took effect.

TikTok, which has more than 150 million US users, is facing growing calls to ban the app nationwide from US lawmakers and state officials, citing concerns about potential Chinese government influence over the platform.

In March, a congressional committee questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about whether the Chinese government could access user data, or influence what Americans see on the app.

The company has consistently denied sharing data with the Chinese government and said it would not do so even if asked.

To address these concerns, TikTok is working on an initiative called Project Texas, which will create a separate entity to store user data in the US on servers operated by US technology company Oracle./.

H.Thuy (Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

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