Pakistan blocks dating apps like Tinder, Grindr citing ‘immoral and indecent content’

Pakistan has blocked five dating apps including Tinder and Grindr (for gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and queer people) stating that  they hosted ‘immoral and indecent content’.

The other blocked apps include Tagged, Skout and SayHi.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had stated that it had blocked the services as it did not receive a reply to the notices issues to the companies advising them to remove dating services and moderate live streaming content on their apps.

It added that it can “reconsider” the block if the apps adhere to local laws and moderate indecent and immoral content.

According to CNN, Tinder and Grindr were downloaded 440,000 and 300,000 times respectively in the last 12 months. Tagged and SayHi had each been downloaded about 300,000 times in Pakistan, and Skout 100,000 times in the past 12 months, the CNN report said quoting Sensor Towers data.