Ban on TikTok lifted in Pakistan

On Monday, the Pakistani telecom authority reported that the ban on TikTok has been lifted 11 days after the short video app was blocked in the country due to controversial videos in Pakistani eyes. However, a warning was issued to TikTok that they must become more actively involved in moderation, otherwise a permanent ban threatens.

After consultation with TikTok

According to Pakistanis, the ban was lifted after consultation with TikTok’s senior management team. They promised to moderate the content on TikTok from now on in accordance with ‘the prevailing social standards of Pakistan’. TikTok has approximately 20 million monthly active users in Pakistan.

TikTok’s management team will now also ensure that it blocks users who repeatedly post ‘illegal’ content, the telecom authority said in a statement.

“TikTok is now strictly subject to the condition that the platform will not be used for the distribution of indecent content. Social standards in Pakistan must not be exceeded. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority may permanently block TikTok if this condition is not met, ”the authority warned.

VVMU

The ban has raised concern among some Pakistani citizens, who feel that the ban was an attempt by the Pakistani government to restrict freedom of expression in the country.

Earlier this year, Pakistan revealed very sweeping internet censorship rules. These rules would have had serious consequences for American tech companies, but later the measures went into the trash, reportedly at the urging of Facebook, Google and Twitter, among others, who threatened to leave the strict Islamic country.

Neighboring India has also banned TikTok, along with hundreds of other Chinese apps. In the case of India, the concerns are about cyber security. Prior to the ban, India was TikTok’s largest foreign market.