TikTok's future in the US uncertain after Montana ban

The news: Montana is the first state to approve a full ban on ByteDance’s TikTok, escalating the government's negative sentiment toward the popular video app on the grounds of its potential for spying on US citizens, per NPR.

An all-out ban: Montana's House of Representatives voted 54-43 to approve the bill that would ban TikTok from being downloaded in the state.  

• The bill makes it illegal to download TikTok in the state, with penalties of up to $10,000 a day for any entity, such as Apple and Google app stores or TikTok itself, that makes the popular video-streaming app available.
• The bill was sent to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, who previously banned TikTok from state-owned devices.
• If enacted, the ban in the state would not start until January 2024.

Sentiment is souring on TikTok: Governments of the US, Canada, Belgium, India, the UK, the European Commission, and France have banned TikTok from government devices over data privacy and national security concerns. 

• Half of Americans support a US government ban on TikTok, while 22% oppose the idea and more than a quarter are unsure, per a study by Pew Research Center.
• More than half of US states have banned TikTok from government devices, per CNN.
• TikTok CEO Shou Chew failed to convince the US Congress of the app’s autonomy from Chinese-owned ByteDance and its connection to Beijing. 

Easier said than done: TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter, said the bill's backers have admitted that there is “no feasible plan" for putting the TikTok ban in place. 

• Blocking downloads of apps in any one individual state would be almost impossible to enforce. 
• TikTok is also accessible via its website and on PC app stores. 

What’s next? TikTok is expected to challenge Montana's ban in federal court, setting up a legal battle that could reach the Supreme Court. “We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach,” Oberwetter said.

Our take: TikTok and its users and advertisers are facing unprecedented government pushback. Statewide bans on TikTok could gain momentum in the US, even if the mechanics of banning individual apps in specific locations are extremely complex.

This article originally appeared in Insider Intelligence's Connectivity & Tech Briefing—a daily recap of top stories reshaping the technology industry. Subscribe to have more hard-hitting takeaways delivered to your inbox daily.

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