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Pakistan Blocks 5 Dating Apps Over 'Immoral Content'

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has blocked access to five dating apps for their
   delivery of "immoral/indecent content" in the majority-Muslim nation.

   The state regulator, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, PTA,
   identified the platforms as Tinder, Grindr, Tagged, Skout and SayHi.

   "PTA issued notices to the above-mentioned platforms for the purpose of
   removing dating services and to moderate livestreaming content in
   accordance with the local laws of Pakistan," PTA said Tuesday.

   It did not elaborate on the ban, but the country's laws prohibit
   homosexuality and extra-marital relationships.

   The PTA statement noted that the five companies failed to respond to
   its directive within the stipulated time, prompting the authority to
   block their services in Pakistan. The statement did not elaborate on
   the time frame.

   Officials at the five companies have not commented on PTA's action,
   which has been criticized at home.

   "PTA, deciding what adults should watch privately or not, is itself
   "immoral" if "morality" or "moral order" could be understood as a term
   in Islamic Pakistan! PTA is creating undemocratic trends; courts need
   to stop PTA!," tweeted Moeed Pirzada, a prime-time TV news anchor in
   Pakistan.

   Tinder is globally popular and owned by Match Group.

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