The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has lifted the ban on TikTok on acquiring assurances from the popular video-sharing platform to control “immoral/indecent content” after nearly a five-month suspension.
Press Release: PTA has restored the services of TikTok on assurances of the Platform to control immoral / indecent content.
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) November 19, 2021
PTA Lifts the Ban on TikTok After a Five-Month Suspension
“After the imposition of TikTok ban on 20 July 2021, PTA remained in communications with the TikTok management. As a result of continuous engagement, senior management of the platform assured PTA of its commitment to take necessary measures to control unlawful content following local laws and societal norms,” read a statement published on Friday, after PTA decided to lift TikTok ban.
Users Regularly Involved in Uploading Immoral Content will be Blocked from the App
Furthermore, the Chinese video-sharing platform additionally guaranteed that the users who are frequently involved in uploading unlawful content will be barred from using the platform, it added. Based on the said assurances, the telecom authority decided to lift the ban on TikTok immediately after a five-month suspension. “PTA will continue to monitor the platform in order to ensure that unlawful content contrary to Pakistan’s law and societal values is not disseminated”, stated PTA after Pakistan decided to lift the ban on TikTok.
Earlier this month, TikTok and the PTA executives hosted a detailed discussion concerning content regulation on the social networking app in line with the local laws and societal measures.
Read more: TikTok and PTA Host a Detailed Talk on Content Moderation on the Application
TikTok is Implementing Several Initiatives to Promote Safe Environment on the App
During the said meeting about the five-month suspension, the TikTok spokesperson – Head of Public Policy-Emerging Markets and Head of Global CSR Helena Lersch – highlighted several initiatives being implemented along with a future strategy and investment in the local market for guaranteeing safe, productive, enlightening, and legitimate content to Pakistani users.
In addition to this, the communique stated that PTA Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Amir Azeem Bajwa while acknowledging the struggles of TikTok, assured to maintain engagement with the platform to reach a mutually agreeable mechanism for the provision of safe, lawful, and productive internet exposure to Pakistani.
