HELENA, Mont. – Montana Governor Gianforte determined a social media app to be a threat to state security and took action. On Friday Governor Greg Gianforte prohibited the use of TikTok on state equipment and for state business in Montana.
In a memo to Chief Information Officer Kevin Gilbertson and executive agency directors, the governor cited TikTok’s practice of harvesting expansive amounts of data from its users’ devices and offering this information to the Chinese Communist Party.
Governor Gianforte wrote. “Use of TikTok on state devices poses a significant risk to the security of our state and Montanans’ sensitive data.”
The governor continued, “Given these grave security concerns, effective immediately, no executive agency, board, commission, or other executive branch entity, official, or employee of the State of Montana shall download or access TikTok on government-issued devices or while connected to the state network.”
The memo also prohibits any third-party firms conducting business for or on behalf of the State of Montana from using TikTok.
The governor added, “While we take this action as a state today, I also encourage Montanans to protect their personal data and stop using TikTok.”
