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

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

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

Montana turned the first state in the US to ban the Chinese-owned app when it signed the bill into law last week.

The laws makes it unlawful for app shops to supply TikTok, however doesn’t stop 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 could possibly 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 international affairs are carried out by the federal authorities relatively than particular person states.

TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, has been below 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 at hand over its knowledge, and it could 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”.