Social media should be controlled according to societal norms: PTA Chairman Amir Azeem Bajwa

• PTA chairperson says "inappropriate content" continues to be shared on TikTok.
• Suggests individuals posting inappropriate content and videos on the site should be arrested.
• PTA has blocked over 1.046 million reported links and websites, says Bajwa. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Amir Azeem Bajwa has said that there is no international standard for controlling social media content, therefore, it should be controlled according to the norms and values of society. 

The PTA chairman expressed these views while speaking about the controversy surrounding the popular video-sharing, TikTok, at a press conference in Islamabad on Monday.

He said that the site has been blocked four times in Pakistan but "inappropriate and objectionable content" continues to be shared on the application.

“TikTok cannot stop anyone from uploading a video, therefore, the individuals frequently posting inappropriate content and videos on the site should be arrested,” said Bajwa.

He also suggested that TikTok administrators should take satisfactory measures according to Pakistan’s terms and conditions for social media use because it is not ideal for PTA to ban any social interaction platform.

Read more: Justify ban on TikTok, IHC chief justice tells PTA

He said that the authority has received at least 1.1 million complaints against inappropriate content and blocked over 1.046mn reported links and websites.

Meanwhile, the PTA chairman informed the media that the PTA has blocked 175,000 stolen mobiles, having an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) code, 250 million illegal mobile devices through the new mobile phone verification system, and over 5 million mobile phones having a duplicate IMEI code.

He said that the provision of fake SIM cards has not stopped but the action against it is underway. Penalties have been issued to the mobile network companies in order to curb the issue, he added.

IHC tells PTA to Justify ban on TikTok 

Last month, the Islamabad High Court had asked the PTA to formulate a mechanism regarding the operation of TikTok in Pakistan and consult the federal government rather than taking a unilateral decision to ban the app.

The TikTok was last banned in June this year at the order of Sindh High Court to suspend the video-sharing app TikTok across Pakistan till July 8. It was nearly three months after the country had lifted a ban imposed on it.