Montana has become the first state to ban the popular social media app, TikTok. The ban was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte and has been challenged by TikTok in a U.S. District Court lawsuit, arguing that it violates the First Amendment. The company believes its legal challenge will prevail and the ban affects the hundreds of thousands of TikTok users in Montana. The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges to the app, which has been the subject of scrutiny from the U.S. government.
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Montana has become the first state to ban the popular video sharing app TikTok, with Republican Governor Greg Gianforte signing the bill into law on May 17th. Five TikTok content creators have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the ban, arguing it is an unconstitutional violation of free speech rights. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also criticized the ban, arguing it will trample on the free speech of hundreds of thousands of Montanans. The legal challenge to the ban is ongoing, with the ban set to take effect in January 2024.
Montana has become the first state in the US to ban the popular social media app TikTok, citing the Chinese Communist Party's use of the app to spy on Americans and collect their personal data. The bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte and will be enforced by the Montana Department of Justice. It is yet to be seen whether other states will follow suit.
A Florida elementary school teacher is under investigation by the state Department of Education after she showed her fifth-grade students a Disney movie featuring an openly gay character. Jenna Barbee, the teacher, believes the investigation is an example of discrimination against the LGBTQ community. She said she showed the movie as a “brain break” in between students’ standardized testing and that she had no intention of offending anyone. The state Department of Education has not yet commented on the investigation.
Transgender influencer and activist Dylan Mulvaney has broken her silence after her partnership with Bud Light prompted backlash from conservatives. In her first TikTok in roughly three weeks, Mulvaney shared a video statement on Instagram, expressing her confusion over the need to dehumanize and be cruel. Her message of love and understanding has resonated with many, sparking a debate about the role of corporations in promoting LGBTQ+ rights.
Montana has become the first state to ban the popular social media app TikTok, with the state House of Representatives passing a bill to prohibit downloads of the app and its operation within the state. The bill goes further than prohibitions in place in nearly half the states and the U.S. federal government, and is seen as a testing ground for a potential TikTok-free America. It remains to be seen whether other states will follow Montana’s lead and enact similar bans, and how the bill will be enforced and withstand legal scrutiny.
North Carolina lawmaker and TikTok celebrity Jeff Jackson is set to testify at a hearing about the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices, its impact on children, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. Despite security concerns, Jackson believes a ban is not inevitable and is expected to make promises to protect US user data, keep teens safe, and remain free from any government influence. FBI Director Christopher Wray has warned of the app's national security risks, and the hearing will be an important moment for the social media platform.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to face a grilling from US lawmakers this Thursday in his first sworn testimony before Congress, with the hearing focusing on data privacy and security. In preparation, Chew has been taking part in near-daily, multi-hour prep sessions with TikTok personnel and the app has organized a gathering of creators in D.C. to show their support. The hearing is expected to be a high-stakes event, with Chew’s performance likely to have a major impact on the future of the app in the US.