Last Updated on: 13th July 2023, 01:32 am
TikTok banned in Pakistan suddenly on Friday on a serious notice by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), now let’s why this whole situation happened.
TikTok is an application which is used to make short videos of 15 to 60 seconds. This Short video app is popular all over the world. Most of the users of this app are in India and Pakistan.
India Government already banned the tiktok and other chinese applications on their country a month ago. Pakistan has banned the popular TikTok video sharing app as authorities urge drastic action against “indecent and vulgar” content.
The Pakistani Telecommunications Authority (PTA) announced on Friday that TikTok had violated two warnings back in July and had to block “immoral, obscene and vulgar” content.
“The application did not fully comply with instructions, so instructions were given to block the use of TikTok in the country,” the PTA officials said in a statement.
In view of number of complaints from different segments of the society against immoral/indecent content on the video sharing application TikTok, pic.twitter.com/Vmp5umixeL
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) October 9, 2020
Pakistani citizens could not access the app on Friday evening.
The PTA said it would review its decision if the app implements mechanisms to moderate illegal content.
In a statement, TikTok said it was “hopeful to reach a conclusion that will help us serve the country’s vibrant and creative online community”.
Reactions By a Predominantly Conservative Country
Chinese-owned TikTok, which has become a worldwide sensation with its short video clips, has a huge user base among young Pakistanis, some of whom attract millions of followers.
However, there has been backlash in the largely conservative country that has banned multiple dating apps, including Tinder and Grindr, and threatened YouTube with shutdown in the past few months.
PM Imran Khan Views Against Immoral Content
Muslim-majority Pakistan has media regulations that adhere to conservative social customs.
In July, the telecommunications regulator TikTok issued a “final warning” because of provocative content.
The decision came after Prime Minister Imran Khan showed great interest in the issue, a Pakistani official said, adding that Khan had ordered telecommunications authorities to do whatever they can to block vulgar content.
Usama Khilji, director of Bolo Bhi, a Pakistani group campaigning for internet users’ rights, said the decision undermined the government’s dreams of a digital Pakistan.
“The government’s suspension of an entertainment app that is used by millions of people and is a source of income for thousands of content creators, particularly from smaller towns and villages, is a parody of democratic norms and rights foundations guaranteed by the Constitution.” said Khilji.
Arslan Khalid, Prime Minister Khan’s digital media advisor, has previously claimed that the “exploitation, objectification and sexualization of girls on TikTok” caused parents pain.
Social Media TikTok Stars Reactions
Earlier this week, Pakistani TikToker Jannat Mirza became the first in the country to reach 10 million followers, including lip-syncing and slow-motion clips.
Akhlaq Ahmed, who had a TikTok account with friends in the remote town of Jhal Magsi in Balochistan Province, said the news was like “losing someone from my family”.
Also Read: TikTok Introduces #EduTok Campaign To Promote Educational Videos
“The ban is unfair and unjustified …. instead of banning the app, the PTA should have asked TikTok to ban these users,” he said of the “immoral” content.
