PTA Officially Registers BIGO LIVE and Likee in Pakistan

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially registered two popular social media applications, BIGO LIVE and Likee, in Pakistan. The registration was announced on Wednesday and covers both platforms under their local operating company, Bigo Service Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.

According to the PTA, the registration was completed under the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules, 2021. These rules require significant social media companies operating in Pakistan to register with the authority, ensuring they are accountable for content posted on their platforms.

The regulator stated that it looks forward to working closely with BIGO to enhance content moderation, encourage responsible use of the platforms, and ensure ongoing compliance with Pakistani laws. The PTA described the registration as an important step in its engagement with major social media platforms and in building a safe and secure online environment for users in Pakistan.

Bigo Service Pakistan was among the first companies to register under these rules. In January 2022, it received registration certificates for BIGO LIVE and Likee, as well as for Snack Video. This formal registration provides users with a channel to file complaints and have content that violates local laws removed.

Other major platforms are already under similar regulatory pressure. TikTok, for instance, has removed over 23 million videos from Pakistan for violating its community guidelines, highlighting the broader push for content moderation in the country.