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A few months ago, Montana’s ban on TikTok came into the spotlight, and it aims to impact access to the app for users. This ban came during the period TikTok was under investigation by the US government for its association with parent company ByteDance. The state of Montana was the first state to effect a ban on the social media app in its region, and now a federal district judge questions that move.
Following the ban, TikTok as well as creators in its region took the Montana government to court. The plaintiffs argue that this ban is unconstitutional and an infringement on the freedom of speech for TikTok and its users. This ban will not only take a toll on TikTok but also cut its users away from the services that the app offers them.
In its defence, the Montana state government claims that the ban is in place to protect the online privacy of citizens. This was also the same ground on which the previous threats of banning TikTok in the US stood. However, this claim didn’t lead to the ban of TikTok in the US, but the government of Montana might have taken things into their hands.
A federal district judge questions Montana’s ban on TikTok ahead of it going into effect next year
At the moment, Montana’s ban on TikTok is not yet fully effective, but the state is pushing to block citizens from the app. They aim to do this by barring residents of the area from downloading the app via their mobile app stores. However, US District Judge Donald W. Molloy isn’t standing with the state’s decision, and he calls it confusing.
During the hearing on Thursday, Donald W. Molloy put Montana’s decision through scrutiny. The state’s evidence that TikTok engages in affairs that are a risk to national security came under consideration. After consideration, this evidence didn’t hold much water, as the social media platform’s demands from users aren’t conscientious.
In Molly’s words, “TikTok is asking for information that the users consent to, and they give that voluntarily to TikTok.” So the claims that the platform illegally accesses personal data from users for other uses don’t add up. US District Judge Donald W. Molloy points to Montana’s arguments as being confusing.
The state was also questioned as to their right to make decisions for users whether they should share their data with TikTok. Surprisingly, the Montana state government didn’t find any documents proving that TikTok is a threat to national security. So the state’s plans to ban TikTok from their residents’ devices by next year lack good judgment.
However, the US government has a ban on TikTok for government devices. This should have been the path that the Montana state government should have taken instead of imposing the ban on citizens. Montana’s ban on TikTok will soon see a preliminary injunction ahead of the court’s final decision on this matter.