Montana lawmakers vote to ban TikTok in US state

Montana lawmakers vote to ban TikTok in US state

Montana legislators voted to ban TikTok, a possible harbinger of broader US action against the popular Chinese-owned app
Montana legislators voted to ban TikTok, a possible harbinger of broader US action against the popular Chinese-owned app. Photo: LOIC VENANCE / AFP/File
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Celebrate South African innovators, leaders and trailblazers with us! Click to check out Women of Wonder 2022 by Briefly News!

Lawmakers from the western US state of Montana voted Friday to impose a total ban on TikTok setting up a legal fight over accusations that the popular app is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party.

The proposed law, the first by a US state, was passed by 54 votes for and 43 against and will serve as a legal test for a national ban of the Chinese-owned platform, something that lawmakers in Washington are increasingly calling for.

If signed into law by Montana's governor, the bill will be unprecedented and furiously fought by TikTok in state and US courts.

Ahead of the vote, a TikTok spokeswoman said the bill's constitutionality will ultimately "be decided by the courts."

"We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach," the spokeswoman added.

Read also

China, Brazil urge developed nations to meet climate finance vows

Under the proposed law, Apple and Google would have to remove TikTok from their app stores and companies will face daily fines of $10,000 if found in violation.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!

The proposed ban would take effect in 2024, but faces almost certain legal challenges, given its unprecedented nature in the United States.

The bill is the latest skirmish in the duel between TikTok and many western governments, with the app already banned on government devices in the US, Canada and several countries in Europe.

And despite its immense popularity, TikTok also faces an ultimatum by the White House that it split from its Chinese owners or stop operating in America.

The app is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance and is accused by a wide swathe of US politicians of being under the tutelage of the Chinese government and a tool of espionage by Beijing, something the company furiously denies.

Read also

French court to have final say on pensions reform

When introducing the bill on Thursday, Montana state representative Brandon Ler said the Chinese Communist Party is "hiding behind TikTok where they can spy on Americans."

'How do you do it?'

Legal analysts and critics insist that the bill overreaches, leaving it largely symbolic and that pushing through such a drastic measure is all but impossible at the local level.

"How they would actually implement this bill seems very unclear," said Andrew Selepak, a professor of social media at the University of Florida.

The bill "appears to be more of a kind of statement bill than something that would be practical," he added.

Free speech advocates opposed the legislation.

"Passing this legislation would flout the First Amendment and would trample on Montanans' constitutional right to freedom of speech," said a letter to Montana lawmakers from the ACLU and other associations.

Montana's clampdown on TikTok comes as the app faces other proposals of national legislation -- including one bill that could give the White House massive new powers to oversee Chinese tech companies.

Read also

TikTok faces ban in Montana as US backlash continues

Last month TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced a gruelling five-hour questioning from combative US lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle over the app's ties to China and its danger to teens.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.