Montana’s TikTok Ban Is Off… For Now

Since October, we've been updating you on the Montana TikTok ban that was to take effect on January 1, 2024.

Read More: MT TikTok Ban Headed To District Court 10/12/23

Read On: TikTok Ban: District Judge Blasts Lawyers 10/18/23

A Brief Synopsis:

April 2023, the Montana House of Representatives voted for a total TikTok ban in Montana that was to take effect in January 2024. Governor Gianforte signed it into law in May.  In October 2023, TikTok and some Montana TikTok influencers got their day in front of District Judge,  Donald Molloy.

November 30, 2023 Injunction

November 30, 2023, Judge Molloy provided a temporary injunction that blocked the ban stating: (From Associated Press)

the ban “oversteps state power and infringes on the Constitutional right of users and businesses” while singling out the state for its fixation on purported Chinese influence. Despite the state’s attempt to defend (the law) as a consumer protection bill, the current record leaves little doubt that Montana’s legislature and Attorney General were more interested in targeting China’s ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting Montana consumers. This is especially apparent in that the same legislature enacted an entirely separate law that purports to broadly protect consumers’ digital data and privacy.  The state hasn’t offered any evidence of TikTok’s allegedly harmful data practices

Molloy also suggested that Montana's Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, could run PSA's warning Montanans about TikTok's data collection practices.  In response to the injunction, Knudsen's spokesperson, Emily Cantrell, said

The judge indicated several times that the analysis could change as the case proceeds. We look forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects Montanans from the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and using their data.

Montana Isn't The First State To Show Concern Over The App

The federal government and over half of the states in America have banned the app on official devices.

Hey Montana HOR, We Don't Need You To Tell Us What App To Use

What in the name of technology was the House thinking when it decided they'd decide for all Montanans that TikTok is too dangerous for public consumption?  What made these MONTANANS think other MONTANANS would let them dictate what they use on the internet?  And let me tell you, as long as cigarettes, booze, and pot is sold legally in this state, you have no room to determine that an APP is beyond my scope of judgement.

The whole telling me what's best for me thing makes me FURIOUS.  In my mind, every one of these freaking know it all jackwads need to be voted out of office.  Who in the hell do you all think you are?