How Montana's total TikTok ban is supposed to work

TikTok office building in California
(Image credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) on Wednesday signed a full ban on TikTok operating inside the state, a first-of-its kind law that faces certain legal challenge with national implications. Gianforte and the law's sponsors in the state Legislature argue that TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, could feed U.S. user data to the Chinese government or pass on pro-Beijing propaganda to impressionable Americans. TikTok and free speech advocates called the law a clear violation of the First Amendment. It is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

While the constitutionality of the law is hashed out in court, Montana has another novel challenge on its hands: How will the ban actually work?

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.