TikTok : The state of Montana has prohibited the download of TikTok videos. Montana’s Republican Governor Greg Gianforte signed this order on May 17, 2023. TikTok says this order violates the right to free expression but declined to say whether it will challenge it in court.
TikTok is part ByteDance, a Chinese company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. American counter-espionage officials say TikTok can steal the user data of its American subscribers and share it with the Chinese government. TikTok denies this charge.
In troubled waters
Montana’s new law penalizes any entity that allows people to access TikTok or enables them to download this platform’s content. The penalty amount would be $10,000 per day and excludes the end users of this platform. It should be noted that this order comes into force from January 1, 2024.
Emily Flower, spokeswoman for Montana’s Department of Justice says the government is concerned the social media platform might spy on its users.
Montana isn’t the only state that has come down hard on TikTok. The federal government and 20 states, including Montana, have banned Tik Tok from government devices.
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A troubled relationship
TikTok’s problems arose in 2020 when the US President proposed a ban on the social media giant. However, this ban couldn’t take shape when Trump lost the 2020 Presidential polls. Many Congressmen have also called for banning TikTok because of security concerns.According to CBS News, many Democrats too have been supporting a ban on TikTok. This support seems to have gained momentum after a Chinese spy balloon was spotted in the American skies. Alarmed by its presence, President Biden ordered the USAF to shoot down the spy balloon.
According to Pew Research, TikTok has over 150 million users in America, with 67% between 13-17 years using this platform regularly. Furthermore, 16% of all American teens access TikTok frequently.
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