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TikTok has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Montana following a recently passed state law banning the popular video service in Montana.
The lawsuit It has been submitted On Monday, the Montana federal district court ruling was aimed at “stopping the state of Montana from unlawfully banning TikTok,” an attorney for the app’s parent company, ByteDance, wrote.
“The Montana ban violates the First Amendment to restrict free speech and in many other respects violates the United States Constitution and is preempted by federal law,” the lawyers said. Stated.
Last week, Montana became the first U.S. state to do so. Ban TikTok over allegations that the Chinese government could use the app for intelligence gathering activities. When the ban takes effect on January 1, 2024, the Apple and Google app stores will no longer be legally allowed to offer TikTok to users in Montana, but how will these companies enforce the ban? It is unclear whether it can be implemented.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte explained The ban is a “significant step” aimed at furthering the “shared priority of protecting Montanas from CCP surveillance.”
According to the complaint, TikTok challenges Montana’s allegations that the Chinese government “has access to data about TikTok users and TikTok exposes minors to harmful online content.”
“However, the state has not cited anything to support these claims, and the state’s blunt speculation suggests that the plaintiffs have not and do not plan to share U.S. user data with the Chinese government. , ignores the reality that it takes practical steps to protect privacy and safety.TikTok users are not allowed to store all US user data in the US by default, or to store US user data including taking safeguards to protect the public,” the lawyer added.
TikTok has come under fire from US lawmakers over alleged ties to the Chinese government. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew endured tough times Question It faced criticism from politicians in March and tried to allay their concerns by emphasizing the company’s engagement with the U.S. tech giant. Oracle Develop infrastructure intended to store and process data for people in Texas.
With this lawsuit, TikTok hopes a court will find Montana’s ban “unconstitutional and ahead of federal law.”
clock: Craft Ventures’ David Sachs says banning TikTok at the state level is ‘meaningless’
