The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has banned the use of five dating apps, including two of the world's most popular apps, Tinder and Grindr. Officials claimed that the apps showcased "immoral and indecent" content that was against local laws.
The action to block the use of the apps was made after the companies that owned the mobile platforms failed to immediately respond to notices sent by telecommunications authorities. On Tuesday, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority announced that it had decided to block users in the country from accessing the apps, namely Tinder, Tagged, Grindr, Skout, and SayHi.
The regulator revealed that it had asked the companies to immediately remove the dating services within their platforms for Pakistani users. The agency also requested that the companies properly moderate live-streaming content to mitigate the spread of "immoral" content. Because the companies did not immediately respond, the regulator decided to move ahead with the ban.
According to the agency, it would be possible to unblock the apps but only if the operators agree to make changes to adhere to local laws. Except for Grindr, the owners of the four other mobile apps have yet to formally issue a statement in response to the block.
Grindr's chief operating officer, Rick Marini, said in a statement that he was "deeply disappointed" in Pakistan's decision. He added that the company will work closely with telecom authorities in the country to find an amicable solution so that it can continue to serve the LGBTQ community in the region.
Among the five dating apps, Tinder is the most popular in Pakistan, with over 440,000 downloads over the last 12 months. While the number may seem high, it pales in comparison to the 13 million times the app had been downloaded in the United States over the same period.
LGBTQ dating app Grindr has been downloaded more than 300,000 times in Pakistan over the past 12 months. Tagged and SayHi also had similar download numbers, while Skout was only downloaded 100,000 times over the past 12 months.
Dating apps have fared relatively poorly in deeply religious and conservative nations. This is particularly apparent in countries like Pakistan, which currently has the world's second-largest Muslim population.
