Montana Governor Enacts First Statewide TikTok Ban

Montana has become the first US state to enact a near-total ban on TikTok, with a law set to take effect on January 1, 2024, that would bar the app from operating in the state and prohibit app stores from offering it for download within state lines. The move has been criticised by free speech advocates and tech companies, who fear it will be impossible to implement. TikTok has faced bipartisan scrutiny in the US and other countries over questions of privacy, surveillance and alleged ties to Beijing’s government.