IHC calls in PTA officials over appeal against TikTok ban

The Islamabad High Court summoned the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority officials over an appeal for lifting the ban on popular streaming application TikTok.

The petitioner, who claimed himself to be a well-known athlete, argued that the application was a platform for talented Pakistani citizens to showcase their right of expression and to demonstrate creativity. He said that millions have come to rely on the application as it also offers earning opportunities for talented individuals.

The PTA — top regulator of the telecommunication and digital sector — had on October 9 blocked the video mobile application over the company’s failure to ‘fully comply’ with the directives issued by the government for “development of an effective mechanism for proactive moderation of unlawful online content”.

In view of a number of complaints from different segments of the society against immoral/indecent content on the video sharing application TikTok, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued instructions for blocking of the application, a press release said after the ban.

Keeping in view the complaints and nature of the content being consistently posted on TikTok, PTA issued a final notice to the application and gave considerable time to respond and comply with the Authority instructions for development of effective mechanism for proactive moderation of unlawful online content, it added further.

Later on October 12, the PTA held a meeting with the TikTok officials. The PTA said that TikTok, in an effort to have meaningful engagement with and in compliance with instructions of the Authority with respect to moderating the unlawful online content in accordance with laws of Pakistan, held a detailed virtual meeting with the authority’s chairman.

During the meeting, TikTok senior representative highlighted the efforts that have been taken besides sharing future strategies to improve content moderation in line with local laws.