In a significant development, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) has ordered the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to purge TikTok of all blasphemous, objectionable, and immoral material. The directive came during a critical hearing presided over by Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmed.
The court responded to a petition filed by Advocate Imran Khan, seeking a permanent ban on TikTok in Pakistan due to persistent breaches of guidelines and constitutional violations. Concerns were raised specifically over blasphemous and objectionable videos circulating on the platform.
Jehanzaib Mehsud, representing the PTA, informed the bench that the authority had submitted its comments, highlighting efforts to block blasphemous posts promptly. However, the court expressed dissatisfaction with current measures, questioning why Pakistan lacked effective content filtering systems similar to those in other countries.
Justice Shah underscored the national importance of the issue, urging the PTA to adopt proactive measures. The court directed the PTA to eliminate objectionable content from TikTok and submit a comprehensive report within seven days.
This development follows ongoing scrutiny of TikTok’s operations in Pakistan, where the platform has previously faced bans over concerns regarding immoral content. The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for July 24.
TikTok’s latest transparency report revealed that the platform removed thousands of pieces of content and accounts due to violations of community guidelines and local laws, indicating ongoing challenges in content moderation.
As this issue unfolds, stakeholders await further actions from the PTA amidst heightened scrutiny of social media platforms operating in Pakistan.
For more updates on this evolving story, stay tuned.
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This news article encapsulates the recent developments and judicial directives regarding TikTok in Pakistan, focusing on the PHC’s instructions to the PTA regarding content moderation.
