- The Washington Times - Thursday, April 27, 2023

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte wants to broaden a proposed TikTok ban to include any social media apps that might provide data to any “foreign adversary.”

The state Legislature approved a first-in-the-nation ban on TikTok in mid-April. but Mr. Gianforte, a Republican, is seeking changes.

His amendment, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, says an app “may not operate within the territorial jurisdiction of Montana” if it allows personal data or information to be “provided to a foreign adversary or a person or entity located within a country designated as a foreign adversary.”

The request is the latest hurdle in Montana’s quest to be the first state that bans TikTok, an app owned by China-based ByteDance Ltd.

The Gianforte amendment would avoid singling out TikTok, but could fuel legal challenges if the courts find the legislative language too vague or sweeping.

“The amendment for consideration seeks to improve the bill by broadening Montanans’ privacy protections beyond just TikTok and against all foreign adversaries, while also addressing the bill’s technical and legal concerns,” Gianforte spokeswoman Brooke Metrione said.

Policymakers in both parties have targeted TikTok over national security and privacy concerns related to its Chinese parent company.

Montana, like other states and the federal government, has banned TikTok from government devices, but the state bill would ban all use within its borders.

TikTok says proposed bans are baseless and don’t advance U.S. interests. It says data for its U.S. users is stored on servers in the U.S. and U.S.-based personnel manage access to the data.

Yet TikTok’s CEO failed to assuage congressional lawmakers in both parties at a recent Capitol Hill hearing, even as a handful of lawmakers say the anti-TikTok fervor is an overreaction tied to general concerns about China.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

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