TikTok Ban in Montana Draws Suit From Ranch Mom, Marine, Student

Suit filed by same law firm that beat Trump-era restrictions
Residents suing say they’ve built livelihoods on the platform

A TikTok advertisement at a Metro station in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Thursday, March 30, 2023. TikTok’s chief executive appearance in Congress last week did little to calm the bipartisan fury directed at the viral video-sharing service.Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Joel Rosenblatt

May 18, 2023 at 10:45 PM UTC

Updated on

May 19, 2023 at 4:39 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

A diverse group of Montana TikTok creators with hundreds of thousands of followers sued to challenge the first statewide ban of the popular app, arguing the law violates free-speech rights and will disrupt their livelihoods.

The state’s Republican governor, Greg Gianforte, signed a measure Wednesday that will prohibit the app’s download by the general public beginning next year.