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Pakistan bans Tinder, Grindr and three other apps for being ‘immoral’

Deeming them "immoral or indecent", Pakistan on Tuesday said it has blocked access to Tinder, Grindr, and three other apps. The ban is Pakistan's attempt to further tighten its grip on the internet in the name of morality and so-called "offensive" content. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), said it had asked the platforms to remove dating services and moderate live streaming services in compliance with Pakistan's local laws. The regulator said it proceeded to block the apps since the platforms did not respond to its notices within the stipulated time. Tagged, SayHi, and Skout are the other apps that have been banned. PTA said it can reconsider the ban if the companies assures the government of compliance with local laws "with respect to moderating the indecent/immoral content through meaningful engagement". https://twitter.com/PTAofficialpk/status/1300778356288425984 In just the past week, Pakistan warned both YouTube and TikTok to remove immoral and objectionable content. YouTube was directed to “immediately block vulgar, indecent, immoral, nude and hate speech content for viewing in Pakistan”. The government then issued similar directions to TikTok, asking it to better moderate offensive content. The warnings amount to an existential threat for the companies, as Pakistan has not hesitated to entirely ban platforms before. YouTube was infamously banned in the country for three years, until it agreed to censor content the government found offensive. Both same-sex relationships and extra-marital affairs are punishable in Pakistan. The latter can be punished with stoning and lashing under the Hudood Ordinance. Grindr is a dating service that…

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