Lately, Google has blocked access to TikTok in its Play store in India to comply with the court’s directive. TikTok was available on the App stores of both Google and Apple until Tuesday evening but is no longer available for downloads on both platforms.
Early, this month the Madras High Court directed the center to urge a nationwide ban on TikTok as the court raised concern over the “pornographic and inappropriate” content being made available through such apps. The Supreme Court of India has legitly agreed to hear a plea challenging a Madras High Court order, directing the government to ban the TikTok app.
The order highlighted the fact that TikTok and other short video apps are vulnerable to underage children and may expose them to a sexual predator.
TikTok recently has come under heavy fire in India, months after reports surfaced that the app was being used by the youth to mock and troll politicians and police officers. More recently, the app has been criticized for spreading pornographic and inappropriate content. The Madras HC has labeled the app “inappropriate for children” and has even prohibited media companies from telecasting videos posted on the app.
Recently in central Delhi, a 19-year-old young man was shot dead by his friend while posing with a pistol to film a video on TikTok. 19-year-old Salman was driving the car when his friend Sohail pulled out a country-made gun and aimed at Salman to film a TikTok video. However, the pistol went off shooting Salman on his left Cheek.
Such incidents have made it worst thus instigating the authority to take serious steps. Last week, TikTok owner ByteDance said that it had removed over 6 million videos that violated its terms of use and community guidelines. The company, however, maintains that it cannot be held accountable for the content that third parties upload on the app.
Apple and Google are yet to comment on whether they agree to the government’s order of taking down the TikTok app from their App stores or not.
Last updated on 17 April 2019 at 14:06.
