ABU DHABI: ToTok, that was developed in UAE, has returned to Google Play Store.
In order to announce their coming back, ToTok administration took to the Twitter to hold: “We are happy to inform you #ToTok is now available for download on the Google Play Store.”
It may be recalled that ToTok was removed from the Google and Apple online market places last month following allegations that it had permitted the UAE government to track the conversations and movements of people who installed it on their cellphones. While ToTok (pending a review) still remains unavailable on the Apple Store, Google said it was taken down from the Play Store for a policy issue.
ToTok, that was launched last year is affiliated with a Dubai-based cyber-intelligence and hacking firm DarkMatter. It offers free calling and messaging to millions (who live in places where Skype etc are not available/blocked) is popular among millions.
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority while denying the accusations hold that Dubai laws prohibit any kind of data breach and interception. Nevertheless, savants reckon ToTok to be part of a surveillance operation that afforded insight in the population of the country.
A relevant piece published earlier:
Analysis Centre vital to monitor social media negativities
11th of October, 2018
ISLAMABAD: The media experts on Thursday considering country’s fifty million users vulnerability to social media‘s toxicity asked authorities concerned to establish ‘Analysis Centre’ to monitor emerging threats.
They warned that country’s majority of the population was youth and it was imperative to sensitize them about evil forces working against national interest for their ulterior motives.
International Islamic university mass communication studies department chairman Dr. Zafar Iqbal stressed that social media gatekeeping is in greater national interest by implementing international and national laws to ensure filtering misinformation and disinformation.
Stressing on the vigilance of quarters concerned, he said that the social media was a new battlefield shaping human ideologies and youth brains were more prone to radicalize which could harm cohesion and peace in the society.
Prof Dr. Inam Ur Rehman said that the developed countries have enacted strict rules as an example to this was Germany’s parliaments recently introduced rules enabling to impose up to Euro 50 million fines on even popular sites like Facebook and Youtube for posting illegal content, such as hate speech and incitements to violence.
