Montana became the first state to authorize a complete ban on TikTok when lawmakers passed SB419 in April and Gov. US officials have said that Chinese government influence over ByteDance could potentially lead to US TikTok users’ data being exposed to Beijing — which might facilitate spying, blackmail or other espionage activity. Alexander Berengaut, an attorney for TikTok, responded by quoting Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s own past words about the ban that have characterized TikTok as an alleged agent of China. Ambika Kumar, an attorney representing the group of TikTok creators, said SB419 tramples on the First Amendment rights of consumers and of TikTok itself. Knudsen could have even gone on television to issue public service announcements warning Montanans not to use TikTok, Malloy suggested.

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Persons: Greg Gianforte, Donald Molloy, Christian Corrigan, Corrigan, ” Corrigan, Montana’s, ByteDance, TikTok, Molloy, Alexander Berengaut, Austin Knudsen’s, ” Berengaut, ’, ” Molloy, Ambika Kumar, SB419 tramples, ” Kumar, “ It’s, Malloy, “, ”, Knudsen, ” Malloy Organizations: CNN, Gov, TikTok Locations: Montana, United States, China, Beijing, TikTok, Berengaut