Now that the Madras High Court has lifted the ban on TikTok, users of the popular mobile application that allows people to create short lip-synced videos, are happy. But the concerns expressed by the court while banning the app on 3 April and lifting it on Wednesday still remain. The bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice S S Sundar has said it was concerned about crimes against children and warned that if any ‘controversial’ video violating its conditions were found posted on the app, it would be considered a contempt of court.
On 3 April, the HC had called for the ban on the downloading of TikTok, owing to the spread of pornographic content on the platform. The order came in the wake of allegations from several countries that the app is proving to be a fertile hunting ground for paedophiles. Using this app, users can create and share short videos with special effects. TikTok reached the one billion download mark in February. It allows users to create and share short videos with special effects and is one of the world’s most popular apps. It has been downloaded by nearly 300 million users so far in India, out of more than one billion downloads globally, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower.
It has been criticised for inappropriate content that could also expose children to sexual predators. There is also a live-streaming feature that allows users to send virtual ‘gifts’ to their favourite creators, which can be bought with real money. Arguing against the ban, senior advocate Isaac Mohanlal, who appeared for TikTok, claimed that the application has an in-built security mechanism, and its machine moderation will not allow uploading of videos with obscene or nude content. At the end of the day, it is not just the duty of TikTok to prevent abusive and explicit content. The responsibility also lies with the users. It is the duty of everyone to make the physical and virtual world a safe place to live in.