Montana has become the first US state to pass a law that will ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok from personal devices of state employees and contractors.
The law, signed by Governor Greg Gianforte on Wednesday, will take effect on 1 January. It aims to protect Montanans from “Chinese Communist Party surveillance” and potential data breaches.
TikTok, which is owned by Chinese media giant ByteDance, has denied any links to the Chinese government and said the law violates the free speech rights of its users.
The app, which allows users to create and share short videos with music and filters, has more than 100 million users in the US and hundreds of thousands in Montana.
TikTok said it plans to challenge the law in court and defend the rights of its users.
The law comes amid growing tensions between the US and China over trade, technology and human rights. Former President Donald Trump tried to ban TikTok last year, but his efforts were blocked by federal judges. President Joe Biden has ordered a review of the national security risks posed by Chinese-owned apps.