The Peshawar High Court has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to dispose of blasphemous. And objectionable films from the social media app TikTok.
Judicial Hearing on TikTok Ban Request Peshawar CourtÂ
While listening to the petition to prohibit TikTok. Justice Shakil Ahmed emphasized that users should not be allowed to share objectionable content and should only share superb material. The PTA’s lawyer informed the court that they directly block any blasphemous posts on TikTok.
Comparison with International Practices Peshawar CourtÂ
Justice Atiq Shah questioned why similar content filtering mechanisms are not implemented in Pakistan, as seen in the US and other countries. He suggested establishing a firewall to block blasphemous content automatically.
PTA’s Technological Limitations
The lawyer representing PTA clarified that they currently lack the technology to block such content preemptively and can only remove it after identifying it as objectionable.
Court’s Deadline for Action
The court has instructed PTA to submit a report detailing removing objectionable content from TikTok within seven days. The court has adjourned the hearing until July 24th for further proceedings.
Key Points from the Peshawar High Court Hearing
Judicial Perspective
Justice Atiq Shah: Highlighted the importance of preventing content that blasphemes religious sentiments, suggesting technological solutions akin to those used in other countries.
Justice Shakil Ahmed stressed that TikTok needs to be a platform for positive sharing while swiftly removing objectionable material.
PTA’s Response
PTA acknowledged limitations in their current systems, explaining that they can only remove content after identifying it as flagged.
Future Proceedings
The court has postponed further hearings until July 24th, expecting a comprehensive report from PTA regarding their actions against objectionable content on TikTok.
This directive underscores the judiciary’s proactive stance in safeguarding religious sensitivities in digital spaces, urging technological advancements to support content moderation effectively.
