Montana Becomes the First State to Ban TikTok

Montana has officially become the first U.S. state to ban the popular and controversial social media app, TikTok.

Montana Governor, Greg Gianforte, signed a bill on Wednesday in order to “protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party,” he announced in a tweet.

According to CNN, “The bill, which will take effect in January, specifically names TikTok as its target, prohibiting the app from operating within state lines. The law also outlines potential fines of $10,000 per day for violators, including app stores found to host the social media application.”

Last December, President Biden signed legislation banning TikTok from all government devices and systems.

There has been no direct evidence that the Chinese government has used TikTok to access its users’ data, but many believe the app is being used as a tool to spy on Americans.

NPR reported that TikTok is likely to challenge the bill in federal court.