PTA dismisses 'fake and misleading' notification claiming TikTok banned in Pakistan
Why This Matters
Key context: <p>The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Thursday dismissed reports of a ban on video-sharing platform TikTok as “false and misleading”, clarifying that no notification to that effect had been issued.</p> <p>In a post on social media platform X, the authority said that a fake notification regarding an alleged ban on TikTok was being circulated on social media.</p> <p>“PTA clarifies that no such notification has been issued, and the circulating information is false and misleading,” it said.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/PTAofficialpk/status/2118229967612031109'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/PTAofficialpk/status/2118229967612031109"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>The authority advised the public not to share or rely on unverified information.</p> <p>“Citizens should obtain authentic information only through PTA’s official website and verified social media platforms,” the statement said.</p> <p>TikTok has repeatedly been banned in Pakistan in the past over complaints about indecent and immoral content. The first such <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1584123"><u>ban</u></a> came in October 2020, but was lifted 10 days later, after the company assured the telecom regulator that it would block accounts “spreading obscenity”.</p> <p>In March 2021, the PHC also <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1611912"><u>imposed a ban</u></a> on the video-sharing application that was later <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1615817"><u>lifted</u></a> in April.</p> <p>In June that year, the Sindh High Court had followed suit and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1631996"><u>ordered</u></a> the PTA to suspend access to TikTok in the country for “spreading immorality and obscenity”. The court had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1632781"><u>lifted the suspension</u></a> three days after issuing the order.</p> <p>But the PTA had again <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1636371"><u>blocked access</u></a> to the platform in July for its failure to take down “inappropriate content”.</p> <p>The very next month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1639115"><u>questioned</u></a> the PTA’s powers to impose a blanket ban on TikTok, stating that by the same logic, the telecommunication authority should also ban other digital platforms like Google and YouTube.</p> <p>The court had directed the PTA to consult the government and formulate a mechanism to deal with such matters.</p> <p>Eventually, the PTA had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1659025">lifted the ban</a> in November 2021 following assurances by TikTok that it would “control” the uploading and dissemination of “immoral and indecent content” on the app.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Thursday dismissed reports of a ban on video-sharing platform TikTok as “false and misleading”, clarifying that no notification to that effect had been issued. In a post on social media platform X, the authority said that a fake notification regarding an alleged ban on TikTok was being circulated on social media. “PTA clarifies that no such notification has been issued, and the circulating information is false and misleading,” it said. The authority advised the public not to share or rely on unverified information. “Citizens should obtain authentic information only through PTA’s official website and verified social media platforms,” the statement said. TikTok has repeatedly been banned in Pakistan in the past over complaints about indecent and immoral content. The first such ban came in October 2020, but was lifted 10 days later, after the company assured the telecom regulator that it would block accounts “spreading obscenity”. In March 2021, the PHC also imposed a ban on the video-sharing application that was later lifted in April. In June that year, the Sindh High Court had followed suit and ordered the PTA to suspend access to TikTok in the country for “spreading immorality and obscenity”. The court had lifted the suspension three days after issuing the order. But the PTA had again blocked access to the platform in July for its failure to take down “inappropriate content”. The very next month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had questioned the PTA’s powers to impose a blanket ban on TikTok, stating that by the same logic, the telecommunication authority should also ban other digital platforms like Google and YouTube. The court had directed the PTA to consult the government and formulate a mechanism to deal with such matters. Eventually, the PTA had lifted the ban in November 2021 following assurances by TikTok that it would “control” the uploading and dissemination of “immoral and indecent content” on the app.
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