Authorities ban Tiktok again as court hears obscenity plea

KARACHI: Pakistan authorities on Thursday again blocked the popular Tiktok social media app ater a court ruling on a private citizen’s petition that accused the company of promoting obscenity.

“The Tiktok ban is effective from today,” a representative of the company told reporters, and users confirmed they could not access their accounts or view the short video clips that have made the app one of the most popular in the country.

“It is absurd,” said Imdad Kazmi, studying mass communication at a government university.

“It affects thousands of people who promote their products, fashion and other goods. The ban is not a solution at all.”

Chinese-owned Tiktok has been shut down twice before in Pakistan because of alleged “indecent” content — most recently in March, ater which the company pledged to beter moderate content.

It said on Wednesday it had removed more than six million videos from its Pakistan service in the past three months alone — around 15 per cent featuring “adult nudity and sexual activities.”

A spokesman said the content was removed as a result of both user and government requests.

Earlier this month, small anti-tiktok rallies were held against what protesters called the spreading of homosexual content on the plaform.

“We have grown our local-language moderation capacity for Pakistan and work diligently to review and take action on content in violation of our community guidelines,” a Tiktok statement said ater the latest takedown.

The Sindh High Court said the suspension would hold in place until the next hearing on the petition on July 8.

Freedom of speech advocates have long criticised creeping government censorship and control of Pakistan’s internet and media.

On Wednesday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry stressed the need for judicial reforms and slammed recent high court decisions banning the social media app Tiktok as well as seting aside the appointment of the National Bank of Pakistan ( NBP) president.