TikTok influencers file lawsuit to block Montana ban

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the TikTok ban after promising to «protect the privacy of Montana residents.» Photo: Garrett Turner/AP

Heather DiRocco, a former US Marine Corps sergeant, said in court filings that her 200,000 followers generate a «significant portion» of her income through her posts on comedy, makeup and mental health.

The other three users are Samantha Alario, who uses a platform to sell sustainable swimwear, Alice Held, a student who shares footage of her hikes, and Dale Scout, a comedian.

Montana is doing this for the first time. any western territory has banned TikTok for personal use, while a lawsuit is expected to set the tone for the app's right to operate in the US.

About 150 million people worldwide use TikTok, which has been downloaded about 2 billion times. since launching in 2017.

Under the state ban, TikTok will be fined if it operates within the state, and app store providers such as Google and Apple will also be fined if they allow Montana users upload it.

0103 tiktok's quick rise

In comments made after Governor Greg Gianforte signed into law the ban on Wednesday, a TikTok spokesman said he will «continue to work to protect the rights of our users in Montana and beyond.»

Mr. Gianforte vowed to «protect Montana residents' personal data and sensitive personal information from being collected by the Chinese Communist Party,» echoing widespread official concerns that TikTok could be turned into a surveillance tool.

Governments around the world, including the UK, have already banned TikTok from official devices over concerns that China could use the app to steal sensitive information.

National security laws enacted in 2020 mean that anyone a Chinese company could be forced into covert collaboration with the country's spy agencies.

TikTok has consistently denied being a subdivision of the Chinese government, though last year, Show Tzu Chu chief executive was forced to admit that TikTok's Chinese staff did have a remote access to personal data of US users.

U.S. authorities have already unsuccessfully tried to ban TikTok. In 2020, a federal judge overturned Donald Trump's proposal to block TikTok across the US.

Presidential successor Joe Biden appeared to have taken a softer stance on TikTok when he canceled the Trump era. government orders paving the way for a total ban in 2021.