ISLAMABAD: Tinder, a globally popular dating app, said on Wednesday it would welcome the opportunity to discuss its products and moderation efforts with the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority and looked forward to a "meaningful conversation” as Pakistan blocked five dating apps for not adhering to local laws.
The five blocked apps are Tinder, Tagged, Skout, Grinder and SayHi.
“Our team uses a network of industry-leading automated and manual moderation and review tools, systems and processes - and invests significant resources - to prevent, monitor and remove inappropriate content from our app,” Tinder said in a statement.
“At the same time, we are constantly evaluating and refining our processes, and will always work with regulators and law enforcement, where possible, to protect our members.”
“We welcome the opportunity to discuss our product and moderation efforts with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and look forward to a meaningful conversation,” the dating app added.
Data from analytics firm Sensor Tower quoted by Reuters shows Tinder has been downloaded more than 440,000 times in Pakistan within the last 12 months. Grindr, Tagged and SayHi had each been downloaded about 300,000 times and Skout 100,000 times in that same period.
Critics say Pakistan, using recent digital legislation, has sought to rein in free expression on the internet, blocking or ordering the removal of content deemed immoral as well as critical of the state.
On Tuesday, PTA said keeping in view the “negative effects” of immoral and indecent content streaming through the five applications, the regulator had issued notices to the management of the platforms to remove the dating services and moderate live streaming content in accordance with the local laws of Pakistan.
The platforms, PTA said, did not respond to the notices within the stipulated time, forcing the regulator to block them.
However, PTA said it would reconsider the ban if the companies assured adherence to local laws “with respect to moderating the indecent/immoral content through meaningful engagement.”
Last week, PTA asked YouTube to “immediately” block content deemed “vulgar” and “indecent” by Pakistani authorities, although it did not state what actions it would take if the video-sharing platform did not comply.
Youtube remained banned in Pakistan for three years until January 2016 when the block was lifted after the Google-owned website launched a local version that allows the government to demand removal of material it considers offensive.
Pakistan banned access to YouTube in September 2012 after an anti-Islam film was uploaded to the site, sparking violent protests across major cities in the Muslim-majority country of 220 million people.
On July 21, PTA said it had banned the Singaporean live-streaming app Bigo over “immoral, obscene and vulgar content” and issued a last warning to Chinese video sharing platform Tiktok for “similar” reasons.
The hugely popular online game PUBG also remained banned in Pakistan through July. The ban was lifted on August 1, the PTA said, after ‘positive’ meetings with PUBG representatives. The ban on Bigo was also lifted after the company assured Pakistani authorities it was “committed to moderate immoral and indecent content in accordance with Pakistani laws.”
Tinder says wants ‘meaningful conversation’ with Pakistan as regulator blocks five dating apps
https://arab.news/8bqx3
Tinder says wants ‘meaningful conversation’ with Pakistan as regulator blocks five dating apps
- Tinder, Tagged, Skout, Grinder and SayHi banned by telecoms regulator for disseminating “immoral content”
- Critics say Pakistan is using recent digital legislation to rein in free expression on the internet
Pakistan PM orders port reforms to cut cargo delays, boost trade and growth
- Shehbaz Sharif orders transparent auctions of abandoned cargo and separate yards to clear port backlogs
- Government to fast-track dredging, port expansion and rail links to handle larger vessels and inland cargo
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday ordered wide-ranging reforms at Pakistan’s ports to reduce cargo delays, cut costs for businesses and support economic growth, directing authorities to improve coordination, infrastructure and transparency across the sector.
The instructions were issued during a meeting of a private-sector working group formed to recommend port-related reforms, as the government seeks to ease bottlenecks in trade logistics and improve competitiveness.
“Our ports play an extremely important role in expanding business and driving economic growth in the country,” Sharif said, according to a statement from his office, as he directed port-linked agencies to strengthen coordination to reduce cargo dwell time and ordered a further reduction in port charges to ease the burden on the business community.
Sharif also instructed officials to introduce a transparent system for auctioning abandoned cargo, including the creation of separate yards at ports and the use of internationally reputed firms to manage the process.
He called for faster work on dredging and expanding ports to allow larger vessels to berth and ordered improvements in rail connectivity from ports to facilitate inland cargo movement.
A briefing given to the participants of the meeting highlighted work on a National Ports Master Plan was progressing, adding that a port community system had recently become operational, and fees at several ports were being reduced, including a cut of more than 50 percent in bulk cargo charges at Port Qasim.
Officials also said an electronic bidding system for auctioning abandoned cargo would be launched soon and that tenders for expansion and dredging at Karachi’s ports had already been issued.
