TikTok sues Montana after US state bans Chinese-owned video app

TikTok is suing Montana after the US state handed a legislation banning the video-sharing app from private units.

TikTok filed a lawsuit on Monday arguing the ban is an “unconstitutional” violation of free speech and is predicated on “unfounded speculation” that the Chinese authorities may entry customers’ knowledge.

Montana grew to become the first state within the US to ban the Chinese-owned app when it signed the invoice into legislation final week.

The laws makes it unlawful for app shops to supply TikTok, however doesn’t forestall individuals who have already got the app from utilizing it. It is because of take impact from 1 January 2024.

The state has confronted questions on how the ban may very well be enforced and authorized challenges have been anticipated.

There are 200,000 TikTok customers in Montana and 6,000 companies utilizing the platform, in line with TikTok spokesperson Jamal Brown.

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TikTok’s lawsuit says the ban violates a “federal pre-emption”, that means issues of nationwide safety and overseas affairs are carried out by the federal authorities slightly than particular person states.

TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, has been beneath intense scrutiny over issues it may hand over consumer knowledge to the Chinese authorities or push pro-Beijing propaganda and misinformation on the platform.

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The firm says it has by no means been requested handy over its knowledge, and it will not achieve this if requested.

The lawsuit comes after 5 content material creators additionally sued the state, claiming the ban makes an attempt to suppress speech and “exercises power over national security that Montana does not have”.