After Montana passed a law last week with the intention of prohibiting the downloading of TikTok within its borders, the social media giant has responded by filing a federal lawsuit against the state.

As anticipated, the lawsuit asserts that banning a massively popular social media app constitutes an unlawful suppression of free speech, amounting to censorship, NPR reported.

TikTok argues that the Montana law violates one of the fundamental freedoms protected by the First Amendment.

Legal representatives for TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, also contend that the concerns raised by Montana officials regarding national security fall under federal jurisdiction and cannot be regulated by state authorities.

Matters pertaining to foreign affairs and national security are within the purview of the federal government.

The lawsuit seeks the overturning of the Montana law, which is yet to come into effect. Previously, TikTok creators initiated the first challenge against the law, contending that it infringes upon their right to free speech.

TikTok boasts 150 million users in the United States and is operated by ByteDance, a Chinese internet company.

Written by staff