US state lawmakers to ban ByteDance، Chinese-owned app's TikTok in Montana

Montana State lawmakers passed yesterday a bill for whica the Montana House voted 54-43 to approve to ban popular short-form video app's TikTok، owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance، from operating in the state of Montana، as the latest threat to the Chinese-owned app's existence in the U.S. but it is not clear how the state would enforce the ban in spite of that the bill now heads to Montana Governor Greg Gianforte for signing.

The bill، known as SB 419، to ban popular short-form video app TikTok، owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance which posted a profit of $25 billion last year، from operating in the state of Montana، would prohibit mobile app stores from offering TikTok for download to users in Montana.

ByteDance، owner of TikTok، the world's most valuable privately owned company

Profits at ByteDance، the Chinese owner of video-sharing site TikTok، soared almost 80% last year to $25 billion so that it was valued at $300 billion in 2022، making it the world's most valuable privately owned company as it increased its bottom line by almost 80% compared with 2021's $14 billion

TikTok as well as Apple and Google، which operate mobile app stores، would face fines if they violate the ban، should the bill become law as the governor will carefully consider any bill the legislature sends to his desk، said a spokesperson for the Montana governor’s office.

ByteDance has been threatened with a US TikTok ban by the Biden administration if it doesn't sell the app as more than 12 other countries have partially or totally banned TikTok over similar security concerns but some in ByteDance do not seem to concerned about the prospect of a US ban، however.

TikTok، owned by ByteDance، will continue to fight

But TikTok، owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance، will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana State whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this shocking and horrifying overreach of the American government.

ByteDance's Revenues jumped more than 30% to about $85 billion as advertisers increased their spending on TikTok and its Chinese equivalent called Douyin but only about $15 billion was generated outside China، although that was more than double the figure for 2021.

Despite soaring profits، TikTok founder Zhang Yiming's fortune fell by $13 billion

Despite soaring profits، founder Zhang Yiming's fortune fell by $13 billion to $42 billion after TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before USA Congress last month in an attempt to ease concerns that ByteDance was sharing data about US users with the Chinese government and revealed the founders had a smaller stake than previously estimated.

A spokesperson of the TikTok، which is owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance، said that it is facing growing calls from some U.S. lawmakers to ban the app nationwide over concerns about potential Beijing government influence over the platform inside USA.
A congressional committee grilled TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew last month about whether the Chinese government of Beijing could access user data or influence what Americans see on the app.

TikTok has denied sharing data with the Chinese government

Although TikTok has repeatedly denied that it has ever shared data with the Chinese government of Beijing and has said the company would not do so if asked، Montana State lawmakers are keen to ban the popular short-form video app TikTok، owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance، from operating in their state.

TikTok company is working on an initiative called Project Texas، which creates a standalone entity to store American user data in the U.S. on servers operated by U.S. tech company Oracle to assure that it has never shared data with the Chinese government of Beijing.
Meanwhile، Douyin، which like TikTok is owned by ByteDance، said in a statement it is now authorised to use Tencent Video content and rules about how secondary content can be generated have been clarified.

Agreement between ByteDance's Douyin and internet giant Tencent

ByteDance's Douyin، the Chinese counterpart of TikTok، has agreed with internet giant Tencent to explore the joint promotion of short and long videos، in a thawing of frosty relations that has often been marked by lawsuits and public spats.

Users of platforms in the Douyin Group including Douyin، Xigua Video and Toutiao will be able in China to create short videos using the content in long videos on chinese Tencent platforms.
Yiming and Liang Rubo، the chief executive of ByteDance، own around 20% of the company Yiming ran ByteDance from its foundation in 2012 until 2021، when Rubo succeeded him as CEO.