Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte has done for Montanans what the rest of the US has been afraid to do – tell the Chinese and their TikTok that it’s time to leave.
Much like beloved fictional Montanan John Dutton, Gianforte ran for the state’s top office hoping to not only help the lives of himself and others like him but all the people of Montana. This kind of dedication isn’t something we have much of here in the US, so when it happens it makes shock waves.
While not taking first until January 1, 2024, many expect the law to get tied up in court and be unenforceable for the foreseeable future. It also can help set a standard when it comes to social media and the outside influence of other countries on our citizens.
Following his signature, the governor issued a statement about what had happened. “Today, Montana takes the most decisive action of any state to protect Montanans’ private data and sensitive personal information from being harvested by the Chinese Communist Party.”
American Civil Liberties of Montana and NetChoice, a group of businesses including Google and TikTok, have joined forces to declare the law unconstitutional. They believe this ban is a violation of the first amendment, and it represents strong anti-Chinese sentiments. Additionally, they are concerned about the impacts this can have on small businesses in Montana.
Many Americans have seen a certain level of celebrity from the app, and Montana is no exception. The security risks, the brainwashing, and the deviant behavior it encourages, though, should be concerning for the entire nation.
By taking steps to ensure the people of Montana aren’t forced to worry about such things, Governor Gianforte has effectively sent TikTok to the train station. Now we need to see if they will get dropped off properly or if something will hand them a second chance.