It is an utter misunderstanding of how the Internet works.
“Has, uh, anyone actually read this Montana bill banning “tik-tok”?
It’s completely unhinged,” writes culture watcherAndy Baio on Mastodon.
“I wonder if this is the first legislation to mention licking toilet seats.”
Montana Lawmakers Are… Serious?
Montana’s Househas voted 54-43in favor ofthis bill.
If Governor Greg Gianforte signs it, it will go into effect in January 2024.
The law would impose fines of $10,000 per violation.
So instead, it targets the app stores distributing the app.
Why would any government want to ban TikTok?
The answer should be “security.”
Enforcing the ban at the state level can be challenging.
And then things go nuts.
It’s like a pre-season brainstorming list for a remake of the early 2000s TV seriesJackass.
What can a state, or even a country, do to control online services in the Internet age?
Montana clearly can’t go after a Chinese company, so it is left snapping at the periphery.
And even this attempt is all but futile.
“Enforcing the ban at the state level can be challenging.
And it gets worse.
State laws like this are not just practically unenforceable.
They probably won’t stand up in court, either.
“[E]ven attempting a content-neutral legislation can be dicey,” says Greenky.
