TikTok was banned in the first US state. The new law will go into effect in Montana and prohibit distribution of the app in the popular Apple and Google stores. What will happen to users?
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte just signed a new law banning the TikTok app in the first US state. According to the Republican politician, the document is designed to “protect the citizens of Montana from espionage by the Chinese Communist Party.” However, the restrictions are not as strict as one might expect.
TikTok banned in the US - Montana leads the way
The new regulation is based on the delegation of TikTok distribution through the two most popular app stores - the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The ban will take effect on January 1, 2024. However, users have nothing to fear. If they receive the app from other sources, they will not be held accountable or penalized.
TikTok’s response seems almost certain, including possibly defending its rights in court. However, the company has not yet commented on Gianforte’s final decision. However, the company previously argued that the new law “unlawfully bans TikTok and violates the rights of Montana citizens under the First Amendment to the US Constitution.”
TikTok is still popular in America, although it is associated with China
It is worth recalling that the TikTok case is currently extremely sensitive in the US, as the country is now in a crisis in international relations with China. Although TikTok denies that it is a Chinese company, the public clearly associates the app with the Middle Kingdom.
A possible federal ban on TikTok would be a huge blow to the company. At the moment, more than 150 million US citizens have accounts in the application. Studies show that up to 67% of American teenagers aged 13 to 17 use TikTok almost every day.
Source: Wprost
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