Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Montana's TikTok Ban

A judge has blocked a state law in Montana that would have banned TikTok in the state starting in January 2024. The judge issued a preliminary injunction, stating that the law overstepped state power and infringed on users' constitutional rights. Five content creators and TikTok itself had filed a lawsuit against the ban, arguing that it violated freedom of speech and exceeded Montana's authority over national security. The judge's decision is preliminary, and the state will have the opportunity to present a full factual record. The ban was part of a growing scrutiny over TikTok's security concerns, with more than half of U.S. states and the federal government banning the app on official devices.