Key Takeaways
- Montana secured the support of 18 other states to challenge the TikTok ban.
- The proposed law would prohibit TikTok downloads from app stores within Montana.
- TikTok argues the ban violates federal law and seeks a preliminary injunction.
Washington: The US state of Montana received the support of 18 other states in its attempt to restrict social media platform TikTok, according to an amici curiae brief filed in the US District Court for the District of Montana.
The brief was submitted on Monday by 18 states, including Virginia, Alabama, Idaho and Utah.
It supports a law passed by the Montana legislature that would ban companies from allowing TikTok to be downloaded off their app stores in the state.
TikTok sued Montana in an attempt to prevent the enforcement of the law, which was set to start in January 2024.
“[Montana’s ban] is justified, and Plaintiffs’ motions for a preliminary injunction should be denied, because TikTok intentionally engaged in deceptive business practices which induce individuals to share sensitive personal information that can be easily accessed by the Chinese Communist Party,” the filing said.
The legislation comes amid other efforts across the United States to restrict the use of TikTok amid privacy concerns linked to TikTok’s ties to China-based parent company ByteDance.
TikTok has also failed to regulate its platform and reduce harms to adolescent users, the filing said.
Federal law does not prohibit state governments from protecting their citizens from such conduct, the filing added.
