“We must stop this plague!"
Pakistan has banned the Chinese video-sharing app, TikTok after complaints of “immoral and indecent content” being shared on the app.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) revealed that the decision came after many complaints were made from different segments of society.
In July 2020, TikTok was issued a “final warning” by the regulator concerning explicit content being posted on the social media app.
Taking to Twitter to announce the news, PTA wrote:
“In view of number of complaints from different segments of the society against immoral/indecent content on the video sharing application TikTok.”
They shared the official PTA statement detailing the reason behind the ban of TikTok.
The statement also mentioned that the “Authority is open for engagement and will review its decision subject to a satisfactory mechanism by TikTok to moderate unlawful content.”
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
The news has been trending on Twitter with many Pakistani stars sharing their opinions.
Taking to Twitter to express his view, singer, songwriter, music composer and actor Haroon Shahid wrote:
“Digital freedom is great BUT if your platform doesn’t filter hate speech, immoral content etc. and the owners of the platform refuse to pay heed to the request of the country to look into filtering content then what other way do you tackle the issue?”
Digital freedom is great BUT if your platform doesn't filter hate speech, immoral content etc. and the owners of the platform refuse to pay heed to the request of the country to look into filtering content then what other way do you tackle the issue? #TickTock
— Haroon Shahid (@Haroon_5hahid) October 10, 2020
Pakistani actor, choreographer and writer, Osman Khalid Butt sarcastically tweeted:
“Such indecent & immoral content on the internet, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, gaming apps, television – Ghazis, unite!
“We must stop this plague! Write to PTA now!”
Such indecent & immoral content on the internet, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, gaming apps, television – Ghazis, unite! We must stop this plague! Write to PTA now!
— Osman Khalid Butt ?? (@aClockworkObi) October 9, 2020
Actor Muneeb Butt shared his sympathy for TikTok stars. He said:
“Tiktok got banned! Yar choti choti khushyan thien logun ki feeling bad for tiktok stars!”
Tiktok got banned !
Yar choti choti khushyan thien logun ki feeling bad for tiktok stars !#tiktokbanned— Muneeb Butt (@muneeb_butt9) October 9, 2020
Owned by China-based ByteDance, TikTok has come under fire globally. The platform has been scrutinised for its lack of security and safety concerns.
TikTok has already been banned in India and it appears it will be facing the same fate in countries like the United States and Australia.
In 2016, the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was passed by Pakistan’s parliament.
PECA gave the PTA board authority to block content which was against “the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or … public order, decency or morality.”
The TikTok ban in Pakistan is just one site out of more than 800,000 websites and platforms which have been reportedly banned within the country.
As of yet, TikTok owners have not commented on its ban in Pakistan.
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