TikTok has sued Montana after banning its residents from using the popular video-sharing service.
The latest ban historically marks the first-ever statewide ban against TikTok in the United States (US).
TikTok Sues Montana Over Law Banning the App
According to BBC, Montana recently passed a law prohibiting TikTok use within state borders, citing concerns over data privacy and national security. However, the Chinese-based service has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the new measure conflicts with free speech rights in the US.
And this time, TikTok, the wildly popular service, has struck back against the state of Montana after its new law seeks to ban the video-sharing app. The recent measure is the first instance in which a US state has banned the service statewide.
TikTok, refusing to go down without a fight, has taken the matter to court, unleashing a legal storm that could redefine the boundaries of state authority and digital freedom.
A TikTok spokesperson says the lawsuit they filed against the states seeks to fight the statewide ban against the video-sharing app, calling the new law "unconstitutional." On top of that, the China-based firm is bringing Montana to court in a bid to protect its business, as well as its users in Montana.
The lawsuit filed by the tech giant argues that the Montana statewide ban goes against the First Amendment right to free speech in the constitution. As per Reuters, TikTok further claims that the ban violates the company's and its users' rights.
The Bytedance-owned service says it has roughly over 150 million users in the US. Meanwhile, TikTok says it has "hundreds of thousands" of users in Montana, which Reuters notes has around 1.1 million residents.
First-Ever US Statewide Ban on TikTok
NPR reports that Montana Governor Greg Gianforte recently signed the law that banned access to TikTok in the state over concerns about users' data and national security. Although it has been signed into law, the ban takes effect several months from now, or in January 2024, to be exact.
Before the statewide ban measure, Montana had initially banned access to TikTok in government devices last December 2022, citing similar safety concerns.
The legal team of the state anticipates lawsuits challenging its latest law. The Montana lawyers say they are ready to defend the statewide ban in courts.
Last week, five TikTok content creators challenged the new measure in Montana, filing a lawsuit in federal court to block the statewide ban against the Chinese video-sharing service.
