PTA just banned Tinder in Pakistan
Dating apps in Pakistan have been a huge bridge for people looking to explore relationships and their sexuality. With the public space not being conducive to even the inter-mingling of different genders let alone budding relationships, dating apps have provided a means for it to people who aren’t able to exist in the mainstream. Well, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority just put a wrench in that machine.
Earlier this week there were rumors that PTA might have done something with Tinder in Pakistan
Many people were opining that Tinder had been banned because not many people were able to open the app in Pakistan.
is tinder actually banned in pakistan?
— rona lisa needs to stop backsliding (@3areebz) August 30, 2020
There were jokes how about people being surprised that Tinder existed, in the first place
With everything that allows people the freedom of their personal expression being quickly banned, people were shocked and surprised to find out that Tinder was even allowed to be functional in Bannistan, oops I mean, Pakistan.
So i am seeing tweets about tinder being baned in Pakistan but my real question is "It existed?"
— Hammas Aamir (@hammas_aamir) August 31, 2020
After hours of speculation, PTA has officially confirmed that it indeed banned Tinder in Pakistan
But this comes along with a ban on four other dating apps. These apps are Tagged, Skout, Grindr and SayHi.
As expected, the reasoning given by PTA for banning Tinder and other dating apps in Pakistan is the “immoral/indecent content”
The notice by PTA says that the ban happened, “in view of negative effects of immoral/indecent content streaming through above applications, PTA issued notices to the management of above mentioned platforms for the purpose of removing dating services & moderate live streaming content in accordance with local laws of Pakistan.”
In view of negative effects of immoral/indecent content streaming through above applications, PTA issued notices to the management of above mentioned platforms for the purpose of removing dating services & moderate live streaming content in accordance with local laws of Pakistan.
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) September 1, 2020
Interestingly, with there being no one universal definition of what morality is, it’s pretty easy to invoke morals as a garb of curbing free speech or expression. If only our courts actually helped facilitate people, someone could file a public interest litigation against such bans because obviously these bans are against the fundamental rights that are enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
PTA has left the option to unban Tinder in Pakistan with a condition, however
If the apps “moderate” the “indecent/immoral” content on their platforms, PTA did say it was willing to reconsider blocking them. Well, at least the fact that they’re leaving a door open, in writing, for possibly the first time is a positive, I guess.
PTA can, however, reconsider blocking of the said applications provided management of the companies assures adherence to the local laws with respect to moderating the indecent/immoral content through meaningful engagement.
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) September 1, 2020
Of course many people joked about how PTA moving to ban Tinder in Pakistan and not actual “immoral” stuff just goes to show where our authorities’ priorities lie
Thank God during this time of crisis in Karachi, Pakistan government had its priorities set by banning Tinder β€οΈ
— Arbaz Omar (@ArbazOmar) August 31, 2020
Many others had jokes about how Tinder was mostly useless in Pakistan anyway
No one is more upset about tinder being blocked in Pakistan than married men π
— πΈΩ ΩΫΨΫπΈ (@theD_inDNA) August 30, 2020
okay so tinder is banned in Pakistan now π
Tharki uncles ka kya hoga— Zahra (@queensassurass) August 30, 2020
In Pakistan, tinder is only used to search if "that" person's on it. Otherwise, I haven't seen it working anywhere for anyone in Pakistan.
— BenDover (@Musanna_Ahmed) August 31, 2020
Others had quite a few things to say about the strict censorship of relationships and dating in Pakistan
Pakistan banning Tinder because the only acceptable relationship here is with your phuppo ke bachay π€πΌπ€πΌπ₯°
— Mustafa π€πΌ (@mustafakhursh) August 30, 2020
i donβt need birth control, i live in pakistan https://t.co/BA5j64mOFO
— fama (@phatmisandrist) September 1, 2020
But honestly, this person knows the real reason why PTA banned Tinder in Pakistan
#tinder has been banned in Pakistan only because no one swipes right on the profiles of PTA officials π€·ββοΈ
— Khurram Qureshi (@qureshik74) August 30, 2020
What are your thoughts on the ban on dating apps in Pakistan? Sound off in the comments below.
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