Federal judge blocks Montana's TikTok ban before it takes effect

Summary:

• A federal judge has temporarily blocked Montana's law aiming to ban TikTok within the state, citing concerns that it "oversteps state power" and "likely violates the First Amendment."
• The judge, Donald Molloy, expressed skepticism about the ban during an October hearing, highlighting that TikTok users willingly provide their personal data, and the ban had an "undertone of anti-Chinese sentiment."
• The ruling is preliminary, and a final decision will be made after a trial expected next year, while the debate on TikTok's future in the U.S. continues amid national security concerns and geopolitical tensions with China.