TikTok

Montana Public Radio’s John Hooks has been tracking the progress of the new TikTok ban law and spoke to MTPR's Austin Amestoy about the ban’s uncertain path forward.

Gianforte signed a bill Wednesday that makes Montana the first state in the country to ban TikTok within its borders.

A statewide ban on TikTok is headed to the governor’s desk for consideration. Lawmakers in favor of the bill said they were concerned about TikTok, the popular video sharing app, providing user data to the Chinese government.

A bill introduced into the Senate Business Labor and Economic Affairs Committee Monday would prohibit internet service providers or any other company from allowing anyone within Montana’s borders access to the app TikTok under the threat of a $10,000 fine per incident compounded daily until people are no longer able to access the app.

TikTok’s presence within the Montana University System has all but vanished on Tuesday. That’s when the Commissioner of Higher Education, Clay Christian, issued a directive barring the immensely popular video sharing app from any university-owned devices or networks.

Montana is now the latest state to push back against the extremely popular short-form video-sharing app, TikTok. On Friday, Gov. Greg Gianforte prohibited its use on state equipment.

Montana’s attorney general has launched a civil investigation into the popular social media app TikTok for possible violation of the state’s consumer protection act. Attorney General Austin Knudsen says the app may be misrepresenting the dangers of the platform for teens.