PTA bans five dating apps including Tinder

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has banned five dating apps including the popular app Tinder.

The regulatory authority has cited the reason for banning the popular apps for having “immoral content” in a statement on Tuesday.

PTA said it had barred users from accessing Tinder, Grindr, SayHi, Tagged and Skout after the social networking apps failed to “moderate… content in accordance” with Pakistan’s laws.

PTA in its statement said “keeping in view the negative effects of immoral/indecent content streaming through the above applications”, it had issued notices to the five platforms’ management, asking them to remove “dating services” and moderate live streaming content “in accordance with the local laws of Pakistan”.

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“Since the platforms did not respond to the notices within the stipulated time therefore the authority issued orders for blocking of the said applications,” it further added.

However, PTA can “reconsider blocking” of the said applications provided their company managements assure adherence to local laws “with respect to moderating the indecent/immoral content through meaningful engagement”, says the notification.

Press Release: PTA has blocked access to five dating/live streaming applications i.e. Tinder, Tagged, Skout, Grindr and SayHi. pic.twitter.com/gFJxsgcn6m

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) September 1, 2020

Earlier in July, the authorities issued a final warning to Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, ordering it to filter any obscene content.