TikTok Banned Again in Pakistan Due to Content Concerns

The video-sharing application TikTok has once more been prohibited within Pakistan following a review of allegations concerning inappropriate and objectionable material hosted on the platform.

Court Order and PTA Compliance

A directive from the Peshawar High Court on Thursday mandated the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) to enact a ban on TikTok’s services.

The PTA confirmed its adherence to the court’s ruling in a statement released Thursday evening, announcing that it had “instructed service providers to immediately restrict access to the TikTok application.”

TikTok’s User Base in Pakistan

Recent data from mobile analytics firm App Annie, shared by an industry source with TechCrunch, indicates that TikTok boasted approximately 33 million users in Pakistan as of last month.

This figure represents a significant portion of the country’s total internet user population, which stands at around 100 million.

Court’s Justification for the Ban

According to reports from local news outlets, the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, Qaiser Rashid Khan, characterized certain TikTok videos as “incompatible with Pakistani societal values.”

He further asserted that these videos were actively promoting “indecency.”

TikTok’s Response

As of now, TikTok has not issued an official response to requests for comment regarding the ban.

Previous Bans and Concerns

This is not the first instance of TikTok facing prohibition in Pakistan.

The PTA previously implemented a temporary ban on the app last year, citing the platform’s failure to address concerns regarding the nature of some video content, despite repeated warnings over several months.

Regional Trend: India’s Ban

Pakistan’s decision mirrors a similar action taken by neighboring India, which also banned TikTok last year.

New Delhi’s ban extended to over 200 applications linked to China, citing cybersecurity risks.

Prior to the ban, India represented TikTok’s largest international market, with a user base exceeding 200 million.

Government Control Over Digital Content

Similar to India, the Pakistani government has been actively seeking increased control over content disseminated through digital services operating within the country.

Tech Firm Opposition to New Regulations

While major technology companies have largely accepted new regulations imposed by New Delhi, they collectively voiced opposition to proposed rules in Pakistan late last year.

These firms even threatened to withdraw their services from the country in response to the proposed legislation.

Asia Internet Coalition’s Concerns

Represented by the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), these tech companies expressed “alarm” regarding the breadth of Pakistan’s new law targeting internet firms in November.

The AIC membership includes prominent companies such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, Apple, Amazon, LinkedIn, SAP, Expedia Group, Yahoo, Airbnb, Grab, Rakuten, Booking.com, Line and Cloudflare.

Early Stage Event Announcement

Early Stage is a leading event designed to provide practical guidance for startup entrepreneurs and investors.

Attendees will gain insights from successful founders and venture capitalists regarding business development, fundraising, and portfolio management.

Event Coverage

The event will encompass all facets of company building, including:

• Fundraising strategies
• Recruitment processes
• Sales techniques
• Achieving product-market fit
• Public relations
• Marketing and brand development

Each session incorporates dedicated time for audience questions and interactive discussions.

A 20 percent discount on tickets is available using the code “TCARTICLE” at checkout.