After India, Pakistan Mulling TikTok Ban; Issues 'Final Warning' To Chinese App

Pakistan's 'final warning' to TikTok comes a month after the Chinese app was banned in India over security concerns.

Representational Image (Getty)

Islamabad: Pakistan has issued a warning to the Chinese video app TikTok after it banned gaming app PUBG and live streaming platform BIGO LIVE.  This development has arrived a month after India banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, UC Browser and ShareIt over national security concerns. While there were doubts raised by some who questioned the efficacy of the move, it was popularly hailed as a 'Digital Surgical Strike'. Now, Pakistan too seems to be considering the step as it as sent a 'final warning' to TikTok. The reason, however, is different. Several sections of people have complained against the content being shared on the platform, terming videos as immoral, obscene and vulgar. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued a statement regarding the same. "PTA had issued necessary notices to the aforementioned social media companies under law to moderate the socialisation and content within legal and moral limits, in accordance with the laws of the country," the statement read. "Therefore, in exercise of its powers under PECA, the PTA has decided to immediately block BIGO and issue a final warning to TikTok to put in place a comprehensive mechanism to control obscenity, vulgarity and immorality through its social media application," PTA stated. A miscellaneous civil application was also filed in the Lahore High Court, demanding an immediate ban on TikTok. The petitioner called the app a source of spreading vulgarity, pornography and immoral content by youngsters for the sake of fame on social media.

PUBG Ban

Earlier in July, PUBG was banned in Pakistan after cases of suicides were reported wherein the reason cited was a failure in completing tasks on the viral gaming app. The PTA had issued a statement revealing that it received complaints about the game being too addictive, a waste of time and having a potentially negative impact on children's physical and psychological health. The Federal Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry is opposing  PTA's ban on social media sites and applications by saying that "such bans are killing tech industry". Now, TikTok's reaction to the warning is being awaited and how the matter unfolds ahead remains to be seen. (With Agency Inputs) WATCH | TikTok is Working in India Even After It Was Banned?