ISLAMABAD: After imposing a ban on online game PlayerUnknown's BattleGrounds (PUBG), the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has banned live streaming application BIGO LIVE in the country. It has also issued a final warning to social media application TikTok over "obscene" and "immoral" content on the platforms.
According to a statement issued by the PTA on Monday, the action to ban BIGO LIVE and warning to TikTok was taken after complaints were received from different segments of the society against immoral, obscene and vulgar content witnessed on various social media applications, particularly TikTok and BIGO LIVE.
"PTA had issued necessary notices to the aforementioned social media companies under law to moderate the socialisation and content within legal and moral limits, in accordance with the laws of the country," read the statement.
The PTA maintained that the response from these companies failed to satisfy the authorities, prompting action against the applications.
"Therefore, in exercise of its powers under PECA, the PTA has decided to immediately block BIGO and issue a final warning to TikTok to put in place a comprehensive mechanism to control obscenity, vulgarity and immorality through its social media application," the statement said.
The move comes at a time when a civil miscellaneous application was filed in the Lahore High Court, demanding an immediate ban on TikTok. The petitioner contended that the app was a great mischief of modern times, and had become a source of spreading vulgarity, pornography and immoral content by youngsters for the sake of fame on social media. (IANS)