Montana became the first U.S. state to ban TikTok. Governor Richard Gianforte signed the law prohibiting online application stores from offering China's video-sharing platform. "We banned TikTok to protect the personal and private data of Montana citizens from the Chinese Communist Party," Gianforte wrote on Twitter, explaining his decision.
TikTok's response is tough. "The governor has passed a law banning the First Amendment rights of Montana citizens, illegally banning TikTok, a platform that provides benefits to hundreds of thousands of people across the state," a spokesperson for the company said, adding that "we want to reassure Montana citizens that they can continue to use TikTok to express themselves. earn a living and connect with the community as we continue to work to defend the rights of our users inside and outside Montana."