Montana expands app ban to include TikTok, Telegram, WeChat, and Temu on government devices

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte made a significant move on Wednesday by announcing a state-wide ban on TikTok and extending the prohibition to include WeChat, Telegram, and Temu.

The governor cited concerns about these apps being "tied to foreign adversaries" and directed that they be prohibited from government devices and all state business activities. Additionally, Gianforte highlighted CapCut and Lemon8, both owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, as examples of other apps that pose a risk.

The ban appears to primarily target apps with connections to China, as ByteDance, Pinduoduo (owner of Temu), and Tencent (owner of WeChat) are all Chinese-based companies. Telegram, on the other hand, was founded in Russia but is currently headquartered in Dubai.

Effective from June 1st, Montana's new policy extends the app ban to all state-issued devices that connect to the internet, including cell phones, laptops, tablets, desktop computers, and more. The restriction also applies to third-party firms conducting business on behalf of the state. Governor Gianforte emphasized that if any of the banned apps are currently installed on devices, they must be promptly removed.

While Gianforte asserts that it is "well-documented" that TikTok shares personal information with the Chinese Communist Party, the actual transmission of such data to the government by ByteDance remains unclear. Although concerns have been raised, Congress has shown limited interest in pursuing definitive answers, with many members having already formed their opinions.