Montana TikTok ban put on hold by judge

A federal judge has temporarily halted Montana’s planned statewide TikTok ban, which was scheduled to take effect in 2024, according to reports. US District Judge Donald Molloy said in his decision Thursday that Montana’s legislature and Attorney General were more interested in targeting China’s ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting Montana consumers. The judge also acknowledged TikTok’s argument that the law likely infringed on the First Amendment, harming users’ rights and income. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the ban into law in May, which was more comprehensive than any other states’ regulations targeting the platform. As of April, at least 34 states have announced or enacted TikTok bans for state government agencies, employees and contractors using the app on government-issued devices. Thursday’s decision delivers a setback to Gianforte’s approval and sends a signal to other states contemplating similar measures. The Montana chapter of the ACLU and NetChoice, a trade group whose members include Google and TikTok, have maintained that the law would be unconstitutional.