Montana appears to be expanding its app bans beyond the short-form video app, TikTok. The state is also set on banning other apps that may have ties to other countries such as WeChat, Telegram, and Temu.
Montana's Rampage on Apps
The state must feel like the ban on TikTok was not enough to secure Montana's data as it covers three other apps as well. WeChat, Telegram, and Temu have also been banned from government devices for being allegedly tied to "foreign adversaries."
As three more apps were added to the list, the state government doesn't plan to stop there. Governor Greg Gianforte intends to do the same to similar apps that could pose security risks, even naming video editor CapCut, which is owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance.
Most of the apps have one thing important thing in common, and that's the fact that they are based in China. ByteDance owns CapCut and TikTok, WeChat is owned by Tencent, and Temu is owned by Pinduoduo. Telegram, however, was founded in Russia, according to The Verge.
Unlike the statewide ban on TikTok which will take effect in 2024, the ban on the three mentioned apps on government devices will be implemented this June 1st. State-issued devices such as laptops, tablets, desktops, or anything that connects to the internet are affected.
The new policy does not only apply to government officials and employees. Third-party firms that conduct business with the State of Montana also cannot use the applications. If the apps are already downloaded prior to the policy. It should be "immediately removed."
Montana is not only the first state to officially ban TikTok, but it is also setting an example for other states on just how possible it is to simply ban apps if it poses a threat to the security of US users' data. It is also likely to happen given the distrust that other officials already have.
However, an app ban on government-issued devices is different from blocking the app altogether in the entire state. Like the official ban of TikTok in Montana, it will face legal issues such as its interference with the First Amendment right.
Montana's Ban on TikTok
Governor Gianforte has already signed the bill just a month after it was passed. Users are still able to use the app without consequences, but it's a different matter for app stores and TikTok, as they will receive a daily fine of $10,000 if they violate the legislation, according to Engadget.
It's still not clear how the ban will be enforced, aside from the devices not being able to download the app when they're in the state of Montana. Before implementation, the new policy might face a lot of contradictions, especially from TikTok users.
There are people who use the short-form video app to earn, while others simply use it to express themselves freely. The users are also very well aware of their First Amendment right, which gives them the freedom of speech and press, and it could delay or even reverse the ban.
