Keep Montana TikTok Ban Paused, Advocacy Groups Urge Court (1)

A slew of free speech and internet freedom advocacy groups urged a federal appeals court to uphold a lower court decision blocking Montana from banning social media app TikTok, arguing the ban violates the First Amendment.

The groups, which include the American Civil Liberties Union, argued banning the popular social media app is analogous to blocking newspapers from publishing, which the Supreme Court has found unconstitutional.

“The State’s prohibition here is even more sweeping than those in Near or Pentagon Papers,” the groups wrote, citing two high court First Amendment precedents. “Montana has not merely forbidden particular communications ...