Google and Apple have removed TikTok from their app stores in India at the direction of the Madras High Court, reports Reuters. Existing users can still use the app. The court has appointed senior advocate Arvind P Datar as amicus curiae to advice the court and assess TikTok's 'impact'; posting the matter for April 24. The high court yesterday declined a request by TikTok's operator Bytedance Technology to suspend the April 3rd ban. Bytedance had initially approached the Supreme Court, which directed the Madras High Court to hear Bytedance’s objections to the ban. The same day, MeitY had directed Google and Apple to block downloads of the app. More than 30 million users in India installed TikTok in January, 12 times more than in the same month last year. Why did the high court ban TikTok? The high court's April 3 order (read on LiveLaw) by Justices N. Kirubakaran and S. Sundar pointed out four key issues with the application: Pornography and mental health: The app contains “degrading culture and encouraging pornography besides causing pedophiles and explicit disturbing content, social stigma and mental health issue between teens”… ”It is evident from media reports that pornography and inappropriate contents are made available on this kind of cyber applications. Pranks: “Majority of teens are playing pranks, gaffing around with duet videos sharing with split screen to the strangers”… ”People are “making cruel humour against innocent third parties. Even television channels are also telecasting TikTok videos”… ”Nobody can be pranked or shocked or being…
