TikTok creators sued in federal court over Montana’s ban of TikTok, arguing that the ban stifles free speech. The creators claim that Montana has no authority to address national security concerns in banning the app. Many in Montana claim the app is necessary to conduct business and communicate with family members. (Courthouse News Service, May 18, 2023, by Alanna Madden)
Montana legislators say the ban is needed to keep American’s personal information from being exploited by the Chinese government. The lawsuit states that Montana “can no more ban its residents from viewing or posting to TikTok than it could ban The Wall Street Journal because of who owns it or the ideas it publishes.” (The New York Times, May 18, 2023, by Sapna Maheshwari and David McCabe)