ISLAMABAD: An international short-form video-sharing platform, TikTok, said on Thursday it removed over 9.85 million posts generated by Pakistani users between April and June for violating community guidelines, adding the country ranked second in terms of the volume of removed content in the world.
TikTok has been banned several times by Pakistani courts and regulatory authorities for circulating “immoral content.”
The company made the announcement as the Pakistani government approved new social media rules to regulate its cyberspace, including imposing a penalty of up to Rs500 million, or roughly $3 million, on service providers and social media companies in cases of statutory violations.
The rules, which have been under discussion since November last year, have invited fierce criticism from rights groups who fear they may be used to stifle dissent and free speech.
“To protect the safety of the community and the integrity of the platform, 81,518,334 videos were removed globally from April to June, comprising less than 1 percent of all uploaded content,” the company said in an official handout, adding: “With 9,851,404 videos removed, Pakistan ranked second in the world for the largest volume of videos taken down for Community Guidelines violations in Q2 2021.”
TikTok said 93 percent of the removed videos were take down within 24 hours of posting and 94.1 percent before being reported by a user.
“Even more promising, was the finding that 87.5 percent of removed content had zero views,” it added.
The company provided the figures from its Community Guidelines Enforcement Report which was released on Thursday and detailed the volume and nature of violative content and accounts removed from the platform during the second quarter of 2021.
Pakistan’s new social media rules provide an oversight mechanism under which service providers are required to make community guidelines available for users to access or use any online information system.
Social media companies are also required to not “knowingly host, display, upload, publish, transmit, update or share any online content in violation of local laws.”
Nearly 10 million Pakistani posts removed for violating community guidelines – TikTok
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Nearly 10 million Pakistani posts removed for violating community guidelines – TikTok
- The company says it took down more than 81 million videos worldwide between April and June 2021
- Pakistan approved rules to regulate social media with up to $3 million fine for violators
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
- Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions in the informal sector are made without any taxes, officials say
- The move comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports under which only digital service providers can provide services
KARACHI: Aik, Pakistan’s first Islamic digital bank, has enabled fully digital payments at Islamabad International Airport to offer travelers and passengers secure, Shariah compliant digital transaction facility.
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports across the country, under which only digital service providers can provide services to customers.
Aik, a subsidiary of Bank Islami, said it has onboarded merchants across the Islamabad airport and integrated QR code deployments at key touchpoints to allow passengers and visitors to make secure, seamless, and Shariah-compliant digital transactions at all counters, retail outlets, and service points.
It said the implementation complies with the regulations and framework set by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and is a working model for a large-scale adoption of cashless systems in public infrastructure.
“This deployment reflects our commitment to building practical digital infrastructure that improves everyday transactions,” Aik Chief Officer Ashfaque Ahmed said in a statement.
“By enabling a fully cashless environment at a major national gateway, we are supporting efficiency, transparency, and financial inclusion at scale. This is not only a project; it is a foundation for Pakistan’s cashless future.”
Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions, particularly in the informal sector, are conducted in cash. Officials say many of these transactions are aimed at avoiding taxes.
In recent years, the SBP has taken steps to ensure a transition toward a more cashless economy so that transactions are more traceable, reducing chances of tax evasion and corruption.
By digitizing Islamabad airport, aik said it continues to invest in secure and accessible financial solutions that “expand digital participation and support national economic modernization.”
