- The popular video-based social networking mobile application, TikTok, has been banned in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
- The Madras High Court is also pushing the central government for a pan-India TikTok ban.
- The petition filed against TikTok stated that the app was 'encouraging pornography'.
After several states in India started $4 a ban on the battle royale game, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds for being $4, TikTok seems to be the next mobile app to be caught in the crosshairs.
The petition to ban TikTok contended that the content on the social network platform “was containing degrading culture and encouraging pornography besides containing explicit disturbing content and causing social stigma and medical health issue between teens.”
The bench, led by Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice SS Sundar, cited inappropriate content, including pornography and accessibility to children as the primary reasons behind the interim order — adding that media outlets should also be prohibited from telecasting videos that are made using TikTok.
The court has also recommended that India could bring about a new legislation around the online privacy of children similar to the Children’s Online Privacy Protect Act in the United States.
Why the fuss around TikTok?
Formerly known as musical.ly, the app was rebranded as TikTok when ByteDance acquired it from $1 billion. And, since its launch in India, users from the country account for 39% of TikTok’s 500 million users.
Brands are also using influencers on the platform like Baby Ariel and Lisa & Lena, for their promotion campaigns since the app primarily targets users in the age group of 16 to 24 years.
In light of the scrutiny around fake news and being called up by the parliamentary committee in preparation of the upcoming general election in India, TikTok $4 Sandhya Sharma as its public policy director. The social media app also has content moderation teams working in over 20 countries.
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