Web Desk: The Peshawar High Court grilled the telecom regulator on Tuesday. Judges questioned its failure to curb obscene content on TikTok. They asked why platforms delete political posts instantly while inappropriate videos remain accessible.
The court heard a petition to ban the popular short-video app. Meanwhile, Justices Ijaz Anwar and Farah Jamshid expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
Petitioner counsel Barrister Babar argued that vulgar TikTok videos cause widespread social degradation. Furthermore, he reminded the bench that it previously demanded a PTA progress report on a national web firewall.
PTA counsel Jehanzeb Mehsud defended the regulator and submitted the firewall report. He explained how social media algorithms push content based on user preferences. Consequently, he argued that selectively blocking specific content creates a massive technical challenge. However, he insisted the PTA blocks offending accounts after users file formal complaints.
This technical defense drew immediate skepticism from the bench.
“When a political post appears, the government makes it vanish immediately,” Justice Ijaz Anwar remarked. “Why can you not do the same for obscene content?”
In response, Mehsud shared a new development. The federal government recently established the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to monitor digital platforms.
Expressing urgency, Barrister Babar warned of potential public protests. He said citizens might take to the streets unless the government regulates TikTok effectively. Therefore, he asked the court to summon the new regulatory body.
The Peshawar High Court accepted the petitioner’s request. The judges directed the new authority to submit a comprehensive report. Finally, they adjourned the case for further proceedings.
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