World
Pakistan blocks Tinder, Grindr and other dating apps
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority mentioned it had issued notices to the businesses advising them to take away dating companies and reasonable stay streaming content material on their apps. The businesses did not reply in time — therefore the block, the authority mentioned.
The watchdog added that it may possibly “rethink” the block if the apps adhere to native legal guidelines and reasonable indecent and immoral content material.
Tinder and Grindr are fashionable in america and other Western nations. However the dating apps have far much less traction in deeply conservative, spiritual Pakistan.
Tinder was downloaded 440,000 instances in Pakistan within the final 12 months in comparison with 13 million instances in america throughout the identical interval, in line with information analytics agency Sensor Tower.
Grindr — which describes itself as “the most important social networking app for homosexual, bi, trans, and queer individuals” — was downloaded 300,000 instances in Pakistan in comparison with practically 2 million in america within the final 12 months.
Tagged and SayHi had every been downloaded about 300,000 instances in Pakistan, and Skout 100,000 instances previously 12 months, in line with Sensor Tower.
Grindr’s chief working officer Rick Marini mentioned in a press release that the corporate is “deeply dissatisfied” by the ban.
“Whereas we recognize the broad discretion granted to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, we’re exploring ways in which we might be of service to the LGBTQ group within the area,” Marini mentioned.
— Sophia Saifi contributed to this report.