TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create and share short videos set to music or other audio. The app quickly became a global phenomenon, with over 1 billion active users worldwide. TikTok’s algorithm recommends videos to users based on their interests, making it a popular platform for discovering new content and trends. The app has also been the subject of controversy over privacy and security concerns, with the US constantly pressuring the owner of TikTok, Bytedance. As per the latest reports, the application is one signature away from being banned in a US State.
Montana is poised to become the first state to ban TikTok if Governor Greg Gianforte signs SB419, a bill that passed the state’s House by a 54-43 vote. If the bill is signed into law, TikTok will not be allowed to operate within the state, and app stores in Montana will be banned from offering it for download. The ban would go into effect in January 2022, but individuals who use TikTok in Montana would not be penalized.
The legislation cites concerns about TikTok’s “dangerous content” and “dangerous challenges,” as well as the potential for ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to be forced to turn over user data to the Chinese Communist Party. The bill has been criticized by some as vague and virtually unenforceable, while TikTok has hinted at a possible lawsuit, citing First Amendment protections.
Montana is not alone in seeking to restrict the use of TikTok. More than half of the 50 US states have expressed similar concerns about the app. ByteDance has responded to US government requests to spin off TikTok’s US operations by proposing “Project Texas,” which would create a firewall around US data. However, some lawmakers remain unsatisfied.
Critics of the Montana bill, including technology industry group NetChoice and the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that it sets a dangerous precedent for government control over internet use and violates the US Constitution. NetChoice called on Governor Gianforte to veto the bill, while the ACLU labelled it as censorship that would unjustly limit Montanans’ access to a platform for free expression.
As the controversy over TikTok’s ownership and content continues, it remains to be seen whether Montana’s ban will be the first of many or a one-of-a-kind case in the US.
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(Via)
