Grindr said it was disappointed by Pakistan’s decision to ban it and four other dating apps citing “immoral content”. Reportedly, some 300,000 people from Pakistan download the dating app Grindr every year. WOW! Their business has actually suffered.
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) said on Tuesday it was seeking the removal of “dating services” from apps Tinder, Grindr, Tagged, Skout and SayHi. It also asked them to moderate live-streamed content in accordance with local laws.
“The decision to ban Grindr and other dating apps that allow Pakistani citizens to connect with others on our platforms has disappointed us,” Grindr’s COO Rick Marini told Reuters.
PTA bans Tinder & 4 more dating apps in Pakistan
A recent clampdown on online content by the PTA has also seen warnings given to other major platforms.
Meanwhile, Grindr’s statement did not say whether it would seek to discuss the matter of ban further with Pakistan authorities.
Moreover, PTA said it had asked YouTube to immediately block certain content for viewing in Pakistan, for the second time in a week.
Pakistan had blocked YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc., for three years until 2016.
PTA says it will reconsider the ban
According to PTA, it will reconsider the ban if the companies assured adherence to local laws.
Over the weekend this week, Tinder stopped working in Pakistan. Many users of Tinder in Pakistan raised concerns as they were unable to login to the dating application.
Tinder is a globally popular dating app owned by Match Group. It said in an emailed response to Reuters that it was always willing to work with regulators and law enforcement.
“We welcome the opportunity to discuss our product and moderation efforts with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. We look forward to a meaningful conversation,” a Tinder spokesperson said.
What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments section below.
