In a significant development, the state of Montana has passed a law to ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok, making it the first state in the United States to take such action.

The law, signed by Governor Greg Gianforte, is set to be effective from next year and will likely serve as a test case for a potential national ban on the Chinese-owned platform, an idea gaining traction among lawmakers in Washington.

According to the law, TikTok is prohibited from operating within Montana’s jurisdiction.

The ban extends to any user who accesses or is offered the ability to access or download TikTok. Violations of the ban will result in a daily fine of $10,000.

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In addition, Apple and Google will be required to remove the app from their app stores, and companies may face daily fines for non-compliance. It is expected that legal challenges will be mounted against this ban.

Critics argue that the ban infringes upon the freedom of speech of Montanans who use TikTok as a platform for self-expression, information gathering, and small business operations.

The ACLU Montana policy director, Keegan Medrano, claims that state leaders are curbing free speech under the pretext of anti-Chinese sentiment.

However, the ban will be voided if TikTok is acquired by a company incorporated in a country not designated as a foreign adversary by the United States.

TikTok has faced allegations of being under the influence of the Chinese government and being a tool for espionage, claims vehemently denied by the company. The app has already been banned on government devices in the US, Canada, and several European countries.

Governor Gianforte, in defense of the ban, stated that it aims to protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party.

The ban comes at a time when TikTok is grappling with mounting pressure from the White House, which has demanded that the app sever ties with its Chinese owners or cease operations in the US.

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Meanwhile, national legislation proposals are being discussed, one of which could grant extensive powers to the White House to oversee Chinese tech companies.

The outcome of the legal battle surrounding the ban’s constitutionality remains to be seen, as TikTok anticipates that the courts will have the final say on the matter.