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Tag: ban

  • TikTok Bids Farewell to US users amid ban and uncertainty; Trump throws lifeline

    TikTok Bids Farewell to US users amid ban and uncertainty; Trump throws lifeline

    MUMBAI: The curtains have fallen on TikTok in the United States as the popular short-form video platform voluntarily shut down its service to users ahead of a sweeping legal ban. Upon attempting to log in, users are greeted with a stark message: ” A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”

    This abrupt shutdown has left 170 million young users in the US in a state of disarray. TikTok has become a vital part of their daily lives, serving as a platform for creativity, self-expression, and social connection. Users have taken to social media to express their frustration and disbelief as they can no longer upload content or build their online presence on the app.

    The US government has been vocal about its concerns regarding TikTok’s ties to China, citing national security risks due to the app’s ownership by Chinese parent company ByteDance. Lawmakers have long argued that TikTok must either be operated in the US  by an American company or divested from its Chinese stakeholders. Congress set a firm deadline of 19 January, coinciding with the incoming presidency, for TikTok to comply with the law.

    Despite TikTok’s efforts, a last-minute legal challenge to overturn the ban was thwarted when the Supreme Court ruled that the law does not infringe on the First Amendment. This left the company with no legal recourse. The Biden administration has deferred enforcement of the law to the incoming Trump administration, which has signaled a willingness to negotiate a solution.

    President-elect Donald Trump indicated he might take action to extend the ban’s enforcement deadline. In a recent NBC News interview, he mentioned, “The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done because it’s appropriate. If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.” Under the law, the president can grant a one-time extension of up to 90 days regarding its implementation.

    As of now, TikTok users who attempt to access the app will find it absent from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and users can only retrieve their data through a specific process. TikTok’s help section remains operational, but with the app effectively disabled, users are left hanging.

    TikTok itself has criticised the Biden administration for its lack of clarity and assurance regarding the continuation of its services. The company remarked, “Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement… TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19.”

    As uncertainty looms over TikTok’s future in the U.S., millions are left to wonder if they will ever reconnect with their  app, or if this is truly the end of the line. The situation remains fluid, with potential developments hinging on the incoming administration’s actions in the coming days.

    President Donald Trump later in the day thew the management of TikTok a lifeline later in the day saying he would be considering issuing an executive order giving TikTok 90 days to find itself an American partner. This came as a relief to its 170 million users in the US. 

    Said Trump on TruthSocial: “I am asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.

    “Americans deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Momday, as well as other events and conversations.

    “I would like the United States to have a 50 per cent stake in the joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up. Without U.S. approval, there is  no Tik Tok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.”

    (Updated on 19  January 2025 at 10:30 pm)

  • Australia passes bill banning social media for kids; India’s Vaishnaw calls for stricter regulation

    Australia passes bill banning social media for kids; India’s Vaishnaw calls for stricter regulation

    MUMBAI: No social media for kids. The Aussie house of representatives passed a bill yesterday imposing a ban against Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, SnapChat, X,  Reddit from allowing kids under 16 from accessing these networking platforms. The onus has been put on social media to ensure that kids don’t use them;  fines up to $33 million will be imposed on them if a kid’s profile is found active. The bill will now require senate approval which it most likely will get and social media  will have  a year to clean up their acts. 

    That was Down Under. 

    In India too, the government would like to bring  social media under tight regulation. 

    While addressing a parliament question during the ongoing session of the Lok Sabha today, union minister of information & broadcasting, railways, and electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw,  once again highlighted the urgent need to strengthen existing laws governing social media and OTT platforms.

    “We are living in the era of social media and OTT platforms. However, the democratic institutions and traditional forms of the press that once relied on editorial checks to ensure accountability and correctness of content, have seen these checks diminish over time,” he said. 

    He noted that due to the absence of such editorial oversight, social media has become a platform for freedom of press on one hand, but on the other hand, it has also become a space for uncontrolled expression, which often includes vulgar content. 

    Acknowledging the distinct cultural differences between India and the geographies where these platforms originated, Vaishnaw emphasised. “The cultural sensitivities of India vastly differ from those of the regions where these platforms were created,” he said.  

    This makes it imperative for India to make existing laws more stricter and he urged everyone to come to a consensus on this matter.

    The minister also urged the parliamentary standing committee to take up this important matter issue as a priority. “There should be societal consensus on it, along with stricter laws to address this challenge” he said.

    Will Indian society agree? 

  • India govt bans 18 OTTs and other platforms over pornographic content

    India govt bans 18 OTTs and other platforms over pornographic content

    Mumbai: In coordination with various intermediaries, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) on 14 March 2024, blocked 18 OTT platforms, 19 websites, 10 apps (seven on Google Play Store, three on Apple App Store), and 57 social media handles associated with OTT platforms. This action was taken due to the publishing of obscene, vulgar, and, in some cases, pornographic content.

    The banned OTT platforms are: Dreams Films, Voovi, Yessma, Uncut Adda, Tri Flicks, X Prime, Neon X VIP, Besharams, Hunters, Rabbit, Xtramood, Nuefliks, MoodX, Mojflix, Hot Shots VIP, Fugi, Chikooflix, and Prime Play.

    The ban, imposed under the Information Technology Act, 2000, follows consultations “with other Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, and domain experts specializing in media and entertainment, women’s rights, and child rights,” according to a ministry release.

    Regarding the content on these platforms, the government stated, “A significant portion of the content hosted on these platforms was found to be obscene, vulgar, and portrayed women in a demeaning manner.”

    Commenting on the nature of the content available on these platforms, the government added, “It depicted nudity and sexual acts in various inappropriate contexts, such as relationships between teachers and students, incestuous family relationships, etc.”

    Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur has stressed the importance for platforms to refrain from promoting obscenity, vulgarity, and abuse under the guise of ‘creative expression’.

  • Arnab Goswami on counteroffensive after Sena ban threat; implores viewers

    Arnab Goswami on counteroffensive after Sena ban threat; implores viewers

    Mumbai: Arnab Goswami is fighting back. Like he probably has never done before. Yesterday, he reached out Republic TV and Republic Bharat viewers imploring them to not allow the Shv Cable Sena’s order to cable TV operators to stop  carrying both the channels on their networks.  Said Arnab Goswami: “Our journalism is for the people, our reporting is for your right to know and our channel reports for the nation. They are trying to block us from reaching you. They can't block us, you the people of India won't let them. Join us in this fight, support us in this fight, we need your support."

     

    He has asked viewers to sign a “Can’t block Republic” online.

     

    Arnab Goswami further highlighted: “We have refused to cow down when they try to gag us. We have refused to reveal our sources even when they have put our reporter Anuj and  our crew in jail for three days. And today we refuse to bow down just because they are issuing threats to cable operators in Maharashtra to block our channel Republic Bharat, and our network. This is an attack and an attempt to plunder the fourth pillar of democracy. the Shiv Sena wants us to squirm before them, they want to snatch our fundamental right to report. Under Article 19(1)A of the Constitution of India, Uddhav Thackeray, you have no right to do this. Our coverage speaks truth to power. The people of India did not stand for Emergency in 1975, and they will not stand for what the Sonia Sena is doing right now.”

     

    Earlier, in the day, the channel won a part reprieve from the Mumbai high court when it held that “the (…) Shiv Cable Sena is not a statutory authority to either supersede the license granted to the petitioners or to interfere in the contractual/statutory relationship between the petitioners and the cable network operators. The communication issued by it has, therefore, no effect in law.”

     

    But the court did not heed ARG Outliers’ appeal for the court to intervene and direct cable TV operators not to take the two channels off the air. While the government’s counsel said that the Shiv Cable Sena was an independent private entity from the Shiv Sena, ARG’s counsel said that how much ever it would have liked to place its appeal before the Telecom Disputes Appellate Tribunal, it could not do so as it was in recess and would restart only after 18 September.

     

    The Mumbai high court further added that the there was no evidence that cable TV operators had taken down the channels, and even if they do, it need not be solely  because the of Shiv Cable Sena’s threatening messaging.

  • Twitter bans cryptocurrency ads

    Twitter bans cryptocurrency ads

    MUMBAI: Twitter has officially banned cryptocurrency ads, both initial offerings and sales of virtual currency tokens. Following the announcement, the bitcoin value crashed 8 per cent to $7929. Aligning itself with other major companies like Facebook and Google, Twitter has taken the stand to protect its users from being duped.

    In a statement, the social networking site said it was committed to ensuring the safety of the community. Twitter said,”We know that this type of content is often associated with deception and fraud, both organic and paid, and are proactively implementing a number of signals to prevent these types of accounts from engaging with others in a deceptive manner.”

    Starting today all such ads will be banned. Earlier in March, Twitter started purging itself of accounts that were soliciting cryptocurrency exchanges in the name of famous personalities like Elon Musk, John McAfee, etc. In the next one month, all users will be informed of the new policy.

    The exceptions are major public listed companies that deal in cryptocurrency or even secure wallet services who will be allowed to advertise.

    Cryptocurrency organisations don’t work with banks or governments and instead use blockchain technology where these digital coins are created by supercomputers. However, reports suggest that the ban won’t harm them since just 1 per cent of their traffic is via such paid ads.

    Reddit banned the ads in 2016 followed by Google and Facebook recently

    Also Read :

    Facebook to ban cryptocurrency ads

    Google to ban cryptocurrency ads

  • Lahore HC lifts PEMRA ban on Indian TV shows

    MUMBAI: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday cancelled a ban imposed by PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) on the telecast of Indian television shows in Pakistan. THe HC stated that the federal government had no objection to the Indian television programmes.

    HC chief justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that the Indian content with anti-Pakistan or objectionable content could be censored but there was no requirement for a complete ban, IANS reported. Justice Shah observed that the world had become a global village.

    The petition questing the PEMRA ban had contended that imposing a ban was outside the powers of the regulatory body and the Pakistani constitution. Even though Indian movies were allowed to be screened all over Pakistan, the same could not be shown on television, the petitioner had stated, also claiming that the Pakistani government was involved in “selective patriotism”. The petitioner’s counsel Asma Jehangir argued that the ban on Indian teleplays seemed to be strange when Indian films were being free telecast.

    Although the ban on the telecast of Indian films was done away with in February 2017, approval to air television dramas or teleplays was not granted.

    Also Read:

    MIB minister cautions against unlicensed TV channels

    PEMRA petition in DTH case admitted in Pak SC

    Pakistan gets tough on Indian DTH & content

  • MIB puts NDTV India ban on hold until further notice

    MIB puts NDTV India ban on hold until further notice

    MUMBAI: The twists and turns in l’affaire NDTV continue.  The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) late in the evening today issued another order stated that its earlier diktat banning Hindi TV news channel NDTV India for a day on 9 November 2016 is to be held in “abeyance until further orders.”  What this means is that NDTV need not pull the plug on its Hindi news channel for a day for violations during its coverage of  the Pathankot terrorist attack earlier this year.

    The reason the MIB has stated is that NDTV has made a representation to it , which it is currently examining. And until it does so fully, the earlier order prohibiting transmission or retransmission of NDTV India under the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act is on hold.

    Earlier today, the NDTV management approached the Supreme Court challenging the MIB’s directive.

    And NDTV co-founder and executive chairperson Prannoy Roy met with I&B minister Venkaiah Naidu later in the day exhorting him that his channel’s views on it had perhaps not been fully and adequately appreciated.  Roy also wanted the decision to be reviewed. Following this, a new order was issued by the MIB putting its earlier order on hold.

     “Clearly the Modi government and the MIB have both faced a lot of political heat on account of the ban. It probably had not idea how much of verbal artillery fire it would face from the fourth estate when it took its step to ban NDTV India,” says a media observer. “It’s good that the MIB is taking it as it comes and has retracted its order temporarily until it examines NDTV’s stand. At least it will be able to say it gave the network a chance to make its representation and redeem itself in the public’s eyes which is stating that harsh days are ahead for the media. That the era of the Indira Gandhi emergency is upon us.”

    Earlier today Zee group chairman and BJP MP  Subhash Chandra had said that the actions against NDTV were in order and that instead of a day long ban, a lifelong ban against it should be issued. He also added that even the Indian courts would not overrule the MIB verdict as it had threatened Indian security with its reportage.

    Also Read:

    NDTV challenges I&B Ministry order in Supreme Court

    NDTV India has been singled out: NBA

    Govt hands NDTV India 24-hr ban for breach of content code

  • MIB puts NDTV India ban on hold until further notice

    MIB puts NDTV India ban on hold until further notice

    MUMBAI: The twists and turns in l’affaire NDTV continue.  The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) late in the evening today issued another order stated that its earlier diktat banning Hindi TV news channel NDTV India for a day on 9 November 2016 is to be held in “abeyance until further orders.”  What this means is that NDTV need not pull the plug on its Hindi news channel for a day for violations during its coverage of  the Pathankot terrorist attack earlier this year.

    The reason the MIB has stated is that NDTV has made a representation to it , which it is currently examining. And until it does so fully, the earlier order prohibiting transmission or retransmission of NDTV India under the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act is on hold.

    Earlier today, the NDTV management approached the Supreme Court challenging the MIB’s directive.

    And NDTV co-founder and executive chairperson Prannoy Roy met with I&B minister Venkaiah Naidu later in the day exhorting him that his channel’s views on it had perhaps not been fully and adequately appreciated.  Roy also wanted the decision to be reviewed. Following this, a new order was issued by the MIB putting its earlier order on hold.

     “Clearly the Modi government and the MIB have both faced a lot of political heat on account of the ban. It probably had not idea how much of verbal artillery fire it would face from the fourth estate when it took its step to ban NDTV India,” says a media observer. “It’s good that the MIB is taking it as it comes and has retracted its order temporarily until it examines NDTV’s stand. At least it will be able to say it gave the network a chance to make its representation and redeem itself in the public’s eyes which is stating that harsh days are ahead for the media. That the era of the Indira Gandhi emergency is upon us.”

    Earlier today Zee group chairman and BJP MP  Subhash Chandra had said that the actions against NDTV were in order and that instead of a day long ban, a lifelong ban against it should be issued. He also added that even the Indian courts would not overrule the MIB verdict as it had threatened Indian security with its reportage.

    Also Read:

    NDTV challenges I&B Ministry order in Supreme Court

    NDTV India has been singled out: NBA

    Govt hands NDTV India 24-hr ban for breach of content code

  • Assamese news channel Pratidin Time banned for one day once again

    Assamese news channel Pratidin Time banned for one day once again

    MUMBAI: The Indian government continues with its caning of TV news channels. After NDTV India, it is now the turn of Pratidin Time or News Time Assam to be told to go off air on the powers-that-be’s favourite date 9 November for gross and multiple programming code violations. Pratidin Time has been accused of revealing the identity of a minor victim, showing images of mutilated bodies, and making derogatory statements about women in shows.

    The violation that has been gravely objected to is the one relating to a minor boy for which the day-long ban is being issued. The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) issued an order dated 2 November saying that the channel revealed the identity of a minor who was brutally tortured while working as a domestic servant, thus compromising his privacy and dignity and  exposing him to harm and stigma.

    A high level inter-ministerial committee (IMC) took the decision to compel the channel to turn off its signals for a day after hearing its defence.

    The MIB says that Pratidin Time has time and again being showing images of bodies of dead victims. It has also not being complying with earlier MIB orders which asked it to  apologize for airing a show which appeared to be derogatory towards women.

    The MIB in its current order has stated that Pratidin Time that all the three cases will be covered under the one day ban. It has further explained that under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, it “orders to prohibit the transmission or retransmission of News Time Assam TV channel for one day on any platform throughout India with effect from 00:01 hours on 9th November, 2016 till 00:01 hours on 10th November, 2016.”

    This is not the first time that Pratidin Time (News Time Assam) has been asked to pull the plug. It, along with another channel DY 365, was asked to go off air on 30 July 2014 in another case.

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/news-broadcasting/dy-365-news-time-assam-tv-transmission-banned-for-one-day-for-showing-programmes-denigrating-women-140725

    Then in August 2015 it was slammed on social media as well when it carried a clip on its YouTube channel, criticizing “scantily clad women” calling them a summer time nuisance that went against local culture in Assam. The uproar that followed forced it to pull down its video, but petitions have been filed against it, asking it to to report responsibly.

    Launched on 25 December 2010 as News Time Assam by the Kolkata based Brand Value Communications under the Rose Valley Grop, it was acquired by the Pratidim group in 2015 and rebranded as Pratidin Time.

  • Assamese news channel Pratidin Time banned for one day once again

    Assamese news channel Pratidin Time banned for one day once again

    MUMBAI: The Indian government continues with its caning of TV news channels. After NDTV India, it is now the turn of Pratidin Time or News Time Assam to be told to go off air on the powers-that-be’s favourite date 9 November for gross and multiple programming code violations. Pratidin Time has been accused of revealing the identity of a minor victim, showing images of mutilated bodies, and making derogatory statements about women in shows.

    The violation that has been gravely objected to is the one relating to a minor boy for which the day-long ban is being issued. The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) issued an order dated 2 November saying that the channel revealed the identity of a minor who was brutally tortured while working as a domestic servant, thus compromising his privacy and dignity and  exposing him to harm and stigma.

    A high level inter-ministerial committee (IMC) took the decision to compel the channel to turn off its signals for a day after hearing its defence.

    The MIB says that Pratidin Time has time and again being showing images of bodies of dead victims. It has also not being complying with earlier MIB orders which asked it to  apologize for airing a show which appeared to be derogatory towards women.

    The MIB in its current order has stated that Pratidin Time that all the three cases will be covered under the one day ban. It has further explained that under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, it “orders to prohibit the transmission or retransmission of News Time Assam TV channel for one day on any platform throughout India with effect from 00:01 hours on 9th November, 2016 till 00:01 hours on 10th November, 2016.”

    This is not the first time that Pratidin Time (News Time Assam) has been asked to pull the plug. It, along with another channel DY 365, was asked to go off air on 30 July 2014 in another case.

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/news-broadcasting/dy-365-news-time-assam-tv-transmission-banned-for-one-day-for-showing-programmes-denigrating-women-140725

    Then in August 2015 it was slammed on social media as well when it carried a clip on its YouTube channel, criticizing “scantily clad women” calling them a summer time nuisance that went against local culture in Assam. The uproar that followed forced it to pull down its video, but petitions have been filed against it, asking it to to report responsibly.

    Launched on 25 December 2010 as News Time Assam by the Kolkata based Brand Value Communications under the Rose Valley Grop, it was acquired by the Pratidim group in 2015 and rebranded as Pratidin Time.