In the light of several controversial videos on media platform TikTok and political leaders voicing concern, Information Technology Minister M. Manikandan recently made an announcement in the Assembly that the State would take steps to get the Chinese-developed app banned.
The police have also pointed to the far-reaching implications of hosting videos on the app. They said there had been several law and order incidents due to sharing of videos on the app in the last few months.
Recently, tension prevailed on the main road linking Nagalapuram to Tiruthani in Tiruvallur district when a group of Dalits staged a strong protest, demanding action against a Caste Hindu youth who circulated a video disparaging their community.
Women squatted on the road with cans of kerosene, while a few others set fire to tyres. The situation was brought under control only after police arrested the accused when he surrendered.
Venkataraman, 26, of Thazhavedu village near Tiruthani, had posted a video on TikTok of his speech against the Dalits of the area. Apparently, he had done it at the instigation of his friend, Vijay, 18.
When the police picked up his father for questioning, Venkataraman led Vijay near a lake and killed him.
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Bala Swaminathan, president, Cyber Society of India, said several mobile phone users had downloaded the app and using it. He added that if the law and order situation was under threat, it was important to check the misuse of the app and enforce regulations.
The anti-vice squad of Chennai police recently busted a gang that used morphed pictures of women downloaded from Tik Tok to lure customers.
Using TikTok, miscreants had created a video on the Salem Collector and circulated it on social media. Widespread misuse of the application has been reported in Salem, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli districts.
Advocate and cyber expert N. Karthikeyan said, “As of now, the authorities cannot ban TikTok application legally since it is a company incorporated in China. If the government bans TikTok, it will merely will crop up in another name or form. The Union government should constitute an empowered committee to study the possibility of regulating such applications.”
