Chinese-owned social media app TikTok is facing a complete ban in the United States’s Montana. The app has already been banned on US government-issued devices and many American colleges. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte on Wednesday signed legislation to ban Chinese-owned TikTok from operating in the state. The ban aims to protect residents from alleged intelligence gathering by China.
With this, Montana has become the first US state to ban the short video app. Montana said TikTok could face fines for each violation and additional fines of 10 thousand dollars per day if it violates the ban. The ban is to take effect on January 1, 2024. TikTok has over 150 million American users and has been facing calls from US lawmakers to ban the app in the country over data privacy issues.