The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) restored social media app TikTok, 10 days after the authority banned the app for what it deemed as “unlawful” content, however, it warned the app could be banned permanently if guidelines are not followed.
The PTA banned the app on October 9, stating a number of complaints were submitted to the body, claiming “immoral/indecent” content was present on the short-form video-sharing app.
It stated TikTok did not satisfy the regulator in taking “concrete steps” to block unlawful content, as a reason to why the app was blocked.
In its latest statement, the PTA said it liaised with TikTok senior management which assured the app will moderate content “in accordance with the societal norms and the laws of Pakistan" and pledged to block users who continuously upload unlawful content from the platform”.
The PTA added lifting of the ban is subject to the condition the platform will not be used for the spread of vulgarity and indecent content and will consider a permanent ban if its warning is not heeded.
“PTA will be constrained to permanently block the application, in case the said condition is not fulfilled” the regulator stated.
