Tamil Nadu government to request Centre to ban TikTok application

Tamil Nadu Information Technology minister M Manikandan on Tuesday said in the Assembly that the state government would request the Centre to ban the mobile app TikTok. Manikandan was responding to AIADMK leader and Nagapattinam MLA Thamimun Ansari’s demand that the app is banned. Ansari said TikTok was degrading Tamil culture. “We have a social responsibility. The state has to ban the app immediately,” he said. Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss had demanded a ban on TikTok early in January 2019. “Several countries, including the US and France, had expressed their reservations and apprehension with the app for colouring young peoples’ minds,” he said.

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TikTok was one of the most downloaded apps in 2018 on both Android and Apple devices. On this app, people can create short video which can be synced with an existing sound byte movie dialogue, or a song.

“Look at Saudi Arabia or China, they all have a system to restrict such apps. India is known for family culture, and the great values we teach our children. Most of the TikTok videos are nothing but dances and songs presented in a vulgar way. Many people are upset about this. If the government cannot ban it, I will follow up this issue seeking better regulation,” the Indian Express quoted Ansari as saying.

Earlier, Goa Information Technology Minister Rohan KhaunteSunday had said a law was needed in the state to curb online multi-player game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, popularly called PUBG. “The game had become a "demon" in every house and students were engrossed in playing it and neglecting their studies,” he said.

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"I am not aware of states banning PUBG but some law has to be made to ensure there is a restriction on it in Goa," Khaunte said, adding that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should take a call on such a ban.

PUBG is a battle game developed by a South Korean firm and is a best-seller in the online gaming market. Earlier, in January this year, the Gujarat state education department had issued a circular directing its district primary education officers (DPEOs) to take necessary steps to enforce a ban on the game in primary schools.