PTA blocks TikTok, over failure to remove inappropriate content

Social Media Desk/Web Desk:

The first time the Chinese-owned popular video-sharing app was banned in Pakistan was in October 2020. According to the PTA, the decision was taken over complaints regarding indecent and immoral content.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday again blocked access to TikTok, a popular video-sharing platform, for its failure to take down inappropriate content.

“In light of relevant provisions of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, PTA has blocked access to TikTok app and website in the country,” the authority said in a brief statement.

Press Release: In the light of relevant provisions of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, PTA has blocked access to TikTok App and website in the country.

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) July 21, 2021

“The action has been taken due to [the] continuous presence of inappropriate content on the platform and its failure to take such content down,” the statement said.

The action has been taken due to continuous presence of inappropriate content on the platform and its failure to take such content down.

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) July 21, 2021

Last month, the app said that more than six million videos were removed from TikTok in Pakistan in three months.

“In the Pakistani market, TikTok removed 6,495,992 videos making it the second market to get the most videos removed after the USA, where 8,540,088 videos were removed,” TikTok Pakistan’s latest transparency report said, covering January to March.