Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced today on Monday 19 October 2020 that it is removing the ban on the popular Chinese video-sharing app TikTok.
In this regard, PTA also confirmed this in a message on the social networking website Twitter, which said that ” TikTok’s is being unblocked after assurance from TikTok management that they will block all accounts repeatedly involved obscenity and immorality. TikTok will moderate the account in accordance with local laws”.
PTA said that a local system has been set up to continuously monitor immoral content and suspend such accounts.
It should be noted that on October 9, PTA had shut down the most popular public video-sharing app TikTok across Pakistan.
A PTA spokesman said the decision to shut down the Tik Tak app in Pakistan was due to unethical content.
Just two days ago, it was reported that TikTok officials had assured the Pakistani authorities to remove the immoral content. The management of the well-known mobile video sharing application TikTok expressed hope that they would remove Pakistan’s concerns and stop unethical online content. They hope, the company will soon be able to devise an effective procedure to control immoral content.
According to PTA’s Press Release ” in the presence of vulgar, indecent, immoral content on the platform and its negative effects on the society, TikTok was banned. PTA has been continuously asserting TikTok to prevent its platform from disseminating unlawful content. However, TikTok couldn’t satisfy the Authority for taking concrete steps for blocking and removing unlawful content. Hene, the TikTok application was blocked until a satisfactory content monitoring mechanism is put in the place.
As a result of continuous engagement with the platform senior management before and after the imposition of the ban, TikTok has assured moderate the content in accordance with societal norms and laws of Pakistan and ensured that the users who are continuously involved in uploading unlawful content are blocked from the platform.
PTA, as a facilitator to the user,s healthy digital experience on the internet and growth of digital companies has, therefore, decided to lift the ban. However, restoration of the TikTok services is strictly subject to the condition that the platform will not be used for the spread of vulgarity / indecent content, and the societal values will not be abused. PTA will be constrained permanently block the application, in the case said condition is not fulfilled.”
There are more than 20 million users of TikTok in Pakistan but a large number of parents and religious people are against this application due to its vulgar and immoral content.
TikTok’s statement:
The Chinese company “ByteDance” which owns TikTok welcomed the PTA’s decision. In a statement, ByteDance stated that “At TikTok, we’re committed to enforcing our community guidelines and complying with local laws in all markets in which we operate, as these are pillars of our work to promote a safe and positive community online.”
The decision of PTA to unblock TikTok and resume its operations in Pakistan is widely welcomed by TikTok’s users. The economic analysts said it would increase foreign investor confidence.
