The company or application failed to comply with PTA’s Instructions for months
Following a series of speculations and sourced news, PTA officially banned TikTok – a popular short video sharing app, in Pakistan. The authority cited the “immoral and indecent” content of being the cause of the blockade.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (or PTA for short) said in a press release that it received a “number of complaints from different segments of the society against immoral/indecent content on the video-sharing application TikTok.”
The authority said that it had given the company a “considerable time” to respond and comply with the instructions about moderating unlawful online video content. Eventually, for the application having failed to “fully comply” with the instructions, the authority announced that it has issued directions to the internet service providers to block TikTok.
PTA also noted that it has informed TikTok that they are “open for engagement” and are willing to review its decision given that the company put a satisfactory mechanism to moderate unlawful content.
Apart from the official announcement by the watchdog, TikTok was already being reported to be failed loading as people were showing concern on the social media platforms.
The authority, in July, banned Bigo app and issued “final warning” to TikTok over immoral and vulgar video content. Later in September, it was reported that Imran Khan – Prime Minister Pakistan, was also concerned about the “the growing obscenity and vulgarity in the society”, revealed Shibli Faraz – the information minister. He said that the PM directed the relevant authorities to put an end to it before it’s too late citing the damage it has been causing to the socio-religious values of the society.
