Connect with us

International News

TikTok Sues To Stop Ban In US State Of Montana

Published

on

Spread the love


 

TikTok on Monday filed suit in US federal court to stop the state of Montana from implementing an overall ban on the video sharing app.

The unprecedented ban, set to start in 2024, violates the constitutionally protected right to free speech, TikTok argued in the suit.

 

“We believe our legal challenge will prevail based on an exceedingly strong set of precedents and facts,” a TikTok spokesperson told AFP.

 

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed the unprecedented prohibition into law on May 17.

 

Gianforte said on Twitter that he endorsed the ban in order to “protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party.”

 

“The state has enacted these extraordinary and unprecedented measures based on nothing more than unfounded speculation,” TikTok contended in its lawsuit.

 

Five TikTok users last week filed a suit of their own, calling on a federal court to overturn Montana’s ban on the app, arguing that it violates their free speech rights.

 

The state is trying to exercise national security power that only the federal government can wield and is violating free speech rights in the process, both suits filed against Montana argue.

 

TikTok called on the federal court to declare the Montana ban on its app unconstitutional and block the state from ever putting it into effect.

 

“Montana can no more ban its residents from viewing or posting to TikTok than it could ban the Wall Street Journal because of who owns it or the ideas it publishes,” the lawsuit filed by TikTok users contends.

 

The app is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance and is accused by a wide swath of US politicians of being under the tutelage of the Chinese government and a tool of espionage by Beijing, something the company furiously denies.

Montana became the first US state to ban TikTok, with the law set to take effect next year as debate escalates over the impact and security of the popular video app.

The prohibition will serve as a legal test for a national ban of the platform, something that lawmakers in Washington are increasingly calling for.

The Montana ban makes it a violation each time “a user accesses TikTok, is offered the ability to access TikTok, or is offered the ability to download TikTok.”

Each violation is punishable by a $10,000 fine every day it takes place.

Under the law, Apple and Google will have to remove TikTok from their app stores and companies will face possible daily fines.

 

The prohibition will take effect in 2024, but would be voided if TikTok is acquired by a company incorporated in a country not designated by the United States as a foreign adversary, the law reads.

 

The law is the latest skirmish in duels between TikTok and many western governments, with the app already banned on government devices in the United States, Canada and several countries in Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFP

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

International News

Barca Transfermarket Values: Raphinha, 8 Others Drop, 3 Players Rise

Published

on

Spread the love

 

June 5th, Transfermarkt updated. The new market values of Barcelona players. Three players increased and nine decreased, with Raphinha dropping by 10 million to 70 million euros.

 

Increase (Euros)
Joan-Garcia increased by 5 million to 45 million

Eric-Garcia increased by 5 million to 40 million

Gerard-Martin increased by 10 million to 35 million

Decrease (Euros)
Raphinha decreased by 10 million to 70 million

Kounde decreased by 5 million to 60 million

Balde decreased by 5 million to 50 million

De Jong decreased by 10 million to 35 million

Casado decreased by 2 million to 18 million

Christensen decreased by 1 million to 8 million

Cancelo decreased by 1 million to 8 million

Lewandowski decreased by 1 million to 7 million

Szczesny decreased by 100,000 to 800,000

Unchanged (Euros)
Yamal 200 million

Pedri 150 million

Fermin 100 million

Cubarsi 80 million

Olmo 60 million

Ferran Torres 50 million

Rashford 40 million

Gavi 30 million

Bernal 30 million

Araujo 20 million

Bardghji 15 million

Continue Reading

Business

Bitcoin Drops Below $60,000, First Time Since October 2024

Published

on

Spread the love

 

Bitcoin dropped below $60,000 on Friday, its lowest level since October 2024, just before Donald Trump’s election which propelled it to a record high.

 

The currency fell by about 6 percent around 1615 GMT, to $59.7709, before paring its losses slightly.

The election of Trump, a staunch advocate of cryptocurrencies, to the White House in November 2024 for a second term sparked a wave of enthusiasm in the sector, sending the price of bitcoin soaring to nearly $110,000.

 

AFP

Continue Reading

International News

Man City Threaten Legal Action Over Erling Haaland!

Published

on

Spread the love

 

Man City are considering taking legal action after a Real Madrid presedential candidate said he would sign Erling Haaland, if elected.

 

What actually happened?

Real presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, who faces current president Florentino Perez in Sunday’s vote, claimed on Spanish TV show El Hormiguero on Wednesday night that Haaland had a release clause and wants to move to the Bernabeu. He also held up a Real shirt with ‘Haaland 9’ on the back.

Riquelme, who also promised to sign Haaland’s City team-mate Rodri, said: “If I break my promises regarding either of these players, I’ve signed a guarantee where I’d pay 100 per cent of membership costs for next season.

“Haaland has a release clause, and he wants to come to Madrid.”

What was City’s response?

However, Manchester City have moved quickly to refute those claims, saying in a statement that there is “no chance” Haaland will be leaving the Etihad Stadium any time soon. The Premier League club also said they are considering legal action over the shirt stunt.

A City spokesperson said in a statement: “The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue.

“There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it.

“We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context.”

Haaland is under contract at the Etihad until the summer of 2034 and Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta and his father Alfie Haaland laughed off suggestions the 25-year-old could soon be heading to the Spanish capital.

A joint-statement released in the early hours of Thursday morning said: “All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections.”

What was Perez’s response?

Meanwhile, current Real president Florentino Perez made his own election pledge on Wednesday night, seemingly confirming Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid as manager, if he wins next Sunday’s presidential election.

Perez posted a video on X in which Mourinho features in a Real shirt saying: “Yes”, while the only other words to accompany it say: “Meanwhile, on TV, they just keep talking and talking and talking. So much history to be made.”

The video was posted in response to Riquelme’s TV apperaance promoting his rival bid.

Perez has made no secret of his intention to name Mourinho as head coach should he win the vote and remain for an eighth term in the role, but his social media post appears to have made it official.

Mourinho is widely expected to agree a three-year-deal to return to the Bernabeu Stadium and replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed in January after Xabi Alonso’s departure.

Benfica have yet to confirm Mourinho’s departure, while speculation has been mounting that Marco Silva is being lined up as his successor after the Portuguese announced he will leave Fulham when his contract expires in June.

Real Madrid’s presidential election on Sunday will be decided by the club’s members. It is the first contested election since 2006 as club members will choose between incumbent Perez, 79, and businessman Riquelme, 37.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 TheColumn NG