Montana becomes the first US state to ban TikTok.

Montana will make it illegal for Google and Apple's app stores to offer the TikTok app within the state's borders.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a law on May 17 banning TikTok from operating in the state, making Montana the first U.S. state to ban the popular short -video app .

Montana will make it illegal for Google and Apple's app stores to offer the TikTok app within the state's borders. The ban will take effect on January 1, 2024.

Montana said TikTok could be fined for each violation and an additional $10,000 per day for each violation of the ban .

Additionally, Apple and Google could face fines of $10,000 per violation per day if their online app stores violate the ban.

Gianforte also wants to ban the use of all social media applications that collect or provide personal information or data to foreign adversaries on government- issued devices.

Following this news, TikTok – an app owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance – issued a statement saying the bill "violates the First Amendment rights of Montana residents by unlawfully banning TikTok." At the same time, TikTok affirmed that it "will protect the rights of users inside and outside Montana."

Observers also suggest that Montana's ban may face significant criticism that it violates users' right to free speech, as defined in the First Amendment.

Former President Donald Trump's 2020 attempt to ban Americans from downloading the TikTok and WeChat apps was blocked by numerous courts and never took effect.

TikTok, which currently has over 150 million US users, is facing increasing calls from US lawmakers and state officials to ban the app nationwide. They cite concerns about the potential influence of the Chinese government on the platform.

In March, a congressional committee questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about whether the Chinese government could access user data or influence what Americans see on the app.

The company has consistently denied sharing data with the Chinese government and says it would not do so even if requested.

To address these concerns, TikTok is implementing an initiative called Project Texas. Under this initiative, the company will create an independent entity to store user data in the US on servers operated by the US technology company Oracle.

H. Thuy (VNA/Vietnam+)

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