PHC lifts ban on TikTok

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday directed to lift the ban on popular video-sharing social networking service TikTok, directing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ensure non-access to unethical and objectionable material keeping in view the provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. Earlier, on March 11, 2021, a ban had been placed on TikTok.

As per the orders of the PHC, the PTA issued instructions to the internet service providers to lift the ban on the TikTok app.

PHC Chief Justice Qaisar Rashid Khan presided over the hearing of a petition filed against the social media app. PTA director general, director legal and lawyer Jahanzeb Mehsud, and petitioner's lawyer Sara Ali Khan were in attendance.

During the proceedings, the PHC chief justice inquired about the action taken against the unethical content on the social media app.

“We have raised the issue again with the TikTok’s administration,” the PTA DG replied. “They have also hired a focal person and will look into all the unethical and objectionable material that is being uploaded.”

Read more: PHC bans TikTok over 'immoral content'

The judge remarked that the PTA should have a system in place that could distinguish between good and bad content whereas unethical content should not be uploaded on TikTok at all.

“When people find out that the PTA is taking action against them, they will not upload such things,” the judge said.

The PTA DG apprised the court that they had asked the TikTok administration to block those users who upload such content repeatedly.

PTA lawyer Mehsud apprised the court that there were some sites on which certain things could not be blocked and the entire site had to be shutdown.

The court directed the PTA DG to submit a detailed report at the next hearing by May 25.