4 ms·

Montana close to becoming first state to completely ban TikTok

3 points by djoldman 4y ago

brucethemoose2 4y ago
> At a hearing for the bill in March, a representative from the tech trade group TechNet said app stores also “do not have the ability to geofence” apps on a state by state basis and that it would be impossible for its members, like Apple and Google, to prevent TikTok from being downloaded in Montana. > “We also believe this is a blatant exercise of censorship and is an egregious violation of Montanans free speech rights,” said Keegan Medrano with the ACLU of Montana. This and this. Montana isn't a nation-state or even an EU member. The US is not set up to restrict app commerce and speech on a state by state basis like that... its kinda the idea behind states.
- ofalkaed 4y ago
  >its kinda the idea behind states. The idea behind states is that the country is made up of a union of independent states with a federal government which serves to mediate between the states and make sure they do not overstep on things like basics rights and deal with the international issues. Technically this is absolutely in the power of a state, practically speaking they might as well try and ban air from ND from crossing their boarder. But Montana is perfectly aware that they can not actually ban TikTok or any other app on their own.
  - brucethemoose2 4y ago
    States tried walling off each others' economies in the 1780s, and it didn't work. It may be in their power... but even if the TikTok ban itself is a good idea, its not a good idea for a state to do it.
    - ofalkaed 4y ago
      This has nothing to do with the economy and even if Montana somehow managed to block any and all access to TikTok within their borders the only effect it would have on any economies is a tiny drop in their own revenue from taxes and an even smaller drop on tax revenue at the federal level. What this does is force the issue at the federal level. If Montana (or any state) were to ban TikTok (or any app) all they can really do to enforce that ban is to prohibit the sales of phones with the app within their borders and prohibit local ISPs from allowing access to TikTok, which is fruitless in the days of mail order, satellite internet, VPNs, and so on. So now Montana can go to the Federal government about other states making it impossible for them to enforce their own laws. There are a few reasons they could be doing this, could simply be the standard election season politics and earning points with the locals with legislation that does not have a leg to stand on. It could just be to get it out of the way so they can say Fed has ruled, nothing we can do. Or it could be to force some other related legislation, and probably quite a few other possibilities. You need to dig into Montana politics if you want to figure out their reason.

3 points by djoldman 4y ago

> At a hearing for the bill in March, a representative from the tech trade group TechNet said app stores also “do not have the ability to geofence” apps on a state by state basis and that it would be impossible for its members, like Apple and Google, to prevent TikTok from being downloaded in Montana. > “We also believe this is a blatant exercise of censorship and is an egregious violation of Montanans free speech rights,” said Keegan Medrano with the ACLU of Montana. This and this. Montana isn't a nation-state or even an EU member. The US is not set up to restrict app commerce and speech on a state by state basis like that... its kinda the idea behind states.

ofalkaed 4y ago
>its kinda the idea behind states. The idea behind states is that the country is made up of a union of independent states with a federal government which serves to mediate between the states and make sure they do not overstep on things like basics rights and deal with the international issues. Technically this is absolutely in the power of a state, practically speaking they might as well try and ban air from ND from crossing their boarder. But Montana is perfectly aware that they can not actually ban TikTok or any other app on their own.
- brucethemoose2 4y ago
  States tried walling off each others' economies in the 1780s, and it didn't work. It may be in their power... but even if the TikTok ban itself is a good idea, its not a good idea for a state to do it.
  - ofalkaed 4y ago
    This has nothing to do with the economy and even if Montana somehow managed to block any and all access to TikTok within their borders the only effect it would have on any economies is a tiny drop in their own revenue from taxes and an even smaller drop on tax revenue at the federal level. What this does is force the issue at the federal level. If Montana (or any state) were to ban TikTok (or any app) all they can really do to enforce that ban is to prohibit the sales of phones with the app within their borders and prohibit local ISPs from allowing access to TikTok, which is fruitless in the days of mail order, satellite internet, VPNs, and so on. So now Montana can go to the Federal government about other states making it impossible for them to enforce their own laws. There are a few reasons they could be doing this, could simply be the standard election season politics and earning points with the locals with legislation that does not have a leg to stand on. It could just be to get it out of the way so they can say Fed has ruled, nothing we can do. Or it could be to force some other related legislation, and probably quite a few other possibilities. You need to dig into Montana politics if you want to figure out their reason.