World News – GB – TikTok: Pakistan bans app for ‘immoral and indecent’ content

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) said the ban was due to "complaints from different segments of society about the immoral and indecent content of the video-sharing app." TikTok is said to have 20 million monthly active users in the country In July, Pakistan issued

CAMEROON MAGAZINE - GM10/10/20201 Mins read62 Views

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said the ban was due to « complaints from different segments of society about immoral and indecent content on the video sharing app »

And it was the third most downloaded app after WhatsApp and Facebook in the past 12 months, according to an analytics company

In July, Pakistan issued a final warning to TikTok over content of a provocative nature

The decision to ban it was reportedly taken after Prime Minister Imran Khan took a keen interest in the issue

A Pakistani official said that Mr. Khan had asked telecoms authorities to ensure vulgar content was blocked

The governments of Australia and the United States have cracked down on the Chinese-owned app, with concerns over the privacy and security of its ties to Beijing

Tiktok was banned by India in June, which at the time was its largest market by users. Security concerns were cited as the reason during a border dispute with China

The PTA has said it is « open to engagement » and will review the ban if TikTok can provide a satisfactory way to moderate illegal content

Tiktok, owned by ByteDance, based in China, has declared itself « committed to respecting the law in the markets where the application is offered »

He added: « We have been in regular communication with the PTA and continue to work with them We hope to reach a conclusion that will help us continue to serve the vibrant and creative online community in the country. »

The company has also long denied that its ties to China pose security concerns in other countries

Usama Khilji, director of Bolo Bhi – a Pakistani web user rights group – said the ban undermines the government’s dreams of a digital Pakistan

He added: « The fact that the government is blocking an entertainment app that is used by millions of people and which is a source of income for thousands of content creators, especially those who come from small towns and villages, is a parody of democratic standards and constitutionally guaranteed rights «