The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has once again blocked the video sharing app TikTok in Pakistan. In a Twitter post, PTA has stated “In respectful compliance to the orders of the Peshawar High Court, PTA has issued directions to service providers to immediately block access to the the TikTok App,”
Earlier while hearing a petition against the social media platform, Peshawar High Court said the videos being uploaded to TikTok were “unacceptable for Pakistani society”. Just like a toxic play-boy whose filth you just don’t want in your life anymore…
This blocking and unblocking game between Pakistan and ‘immoral’ TikTok began in October 9, 2020, when the video-sharing app was first blocked in Pakistan over “obscene and immoral” content. PTA issued a final notice to the app and also decided to give it time to develop an effective mechanism for ‘proactive moderation of unlawful online content.’ However, we all know that second chances rarely ever work….And though Pakistan loves to ban immorality, apparently Pakistanis love being ‘immoral’.
And so, the ban was reversed after 10 days. TikTok’s management promised PTA that it will remove all accounts involved in spreading obscenity and immorality and manage content while being sensitive to local laws. The PTA however now feels that TikTok did not take effective steps for blocking and removal of unlawful content. And so here we are at the end of a long-drawn, bad breakup. Let’s see how long this one lasts…
