Montana AG Statement on TikTok Lawsuit Dismissal

AG: Montana News

Published February 20th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued a statement on the joint dismissal of the lawsuit challenging the state's TikTok ban. The dismissal ends years of litigation and is presented as a victory for consumer privacy and national security against foreign adversaries.

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What changed

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced the joint dismissal of the lawsuit that challenged the state's ban on TikTok. The statement frames this dismissal as a successful conclusion to litigation aimed at protecting Montanans' data privacy and national security from foreign adversaries, specifically referencing concerns about the Chinese Communist Party's access to user data.

This notice serves as an informational update regarding the legal proceedings. For regulated entities, this means the legal challenge to Montana's ban has concluded, reinforcing the state's prior action. No new compliance actions are mandated by this dismissal notice itself, but it signifies the finality of the legal battle over the ban.

Source document (simplified)

Published On: February 20, 2026 Categories: Holding Businesses Accountable, Press Release HELENA – Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued the following statement after the lawsuit challenging Montana’s TikTok ban was jointly dismissed in U.S. District Court for the District of Montana today:

“The Chinese Communist Party used TikTok to spy on Montanans. The U.S. Congress recognized these consumer privacy and security concerns and agreed with the Montana Legislature that something needed to be done to protect American’s privacy. President Trump, with his years of business and negotiation experience, worked diligently and succeeded in finding the right American company to purchase TikTok and make sure that Montanans and Americans will no longer be spied on by a foreign adversary. Today’s dismissal ends years of litigation, brought on by TikTok, and will stop wasting taxpayers’ money. I will continue to protect the safety and security of Montanans as your Attorney General.”

Attorney General Knudsen has been a leader in the effort to ban TikTok to protect Americans’ security and privacy. In 2024, he led a brief asking the Supreme Court to uphold the national ban. In 2023, Attorney General Knudsen also helped pass the law to ban TikTok in Montana, the first of its kind in the country.