SC refuses to stay ban, Google, Apple block access to TikTok app

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the Madras High Court’s order that banned the download of TikTok, a popular mobile application that allows users to create short lip-synced videos.

Given the Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the ban, TikTok cannot be downloaded from application stores like Google and Apple anymore, Economic Times reported. According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information, the application, if already downloaded and currently in use, will continue to work without any interruption.

The ban on ByteDance Pvt Ltd-owned TikTok was ordered by the Madras High Court. Senior Advocate S Muthukumar had filed a petition “after noticing that content submitted by children below the age of 18 years with or without intent could be watched by lakhs of viewers, and could be shared by any users on the app”.

The app is facing issues due to its unregulated flow of content. A 2019 BBC investigation revealed that although TikTok was quick to remove illegal content, it wasn’t swift in taking action against the people involved in posting such content.