Pakistani authorities say they have blocked access to TikTok over content deemed as immoral, the latest move by the authorities in the conservative Muslim country against the Chinese-owned video app.
"The action has been taken due to continuous presence of inappropriate content on the platform and its failure to take such content down," the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said on Twitter on July 21.
TikTok representatives did not immediately comment on the move.
The popular video-sharing platform has fought a series of legal battles with Pakistani authorities and religious activists, and was first banned in the conservative Muslim country in October 2020.
The ban was later lifted after reported diplomatic interference by Beijing and an assurance by the site to filter its content.
In June, TikTok announced it had removed more than 6 million videos available to Pakistan users in just three months following complaints from officials and users.
Several other social media platforms are prohibited in Pakistan, including dating app Tinder and live-streaming app Bigo Live, and the authorities have issued a warning to YouTube saying it must block "vulgarity and hate speech" for viewers in the country.
Freedom of speech advocates have long criticized government censorship and control of Pakistan's Internet and media.
Pakistan is ranked 145th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2021 World Press Freedom Index.
