PTA registers BIGO LIVE and Likee as part of its growing push to bring major social media platforms inside a clear legal framework in Pakistan. The registration ceremony took place on 4 November 2026 at PTA headquarters in Islamabad, and it means Pakistani users now have a direct, official channel to report content they find harmful on both apps.
What PTA Registers BIGO LIVE Actually Means
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority formally registered BIGO LIVE and Likee under Bigo Service Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., in line with the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules, 2021. These rules are Pakistan’s main law for regulating social media. They set out what platforms must do to stay legal in the country.
The registration was completed under rules that require significant social media companies operating in Pakistan to register with the authority. In simple terms, any platform with a large Pakistani user base must sign up with PTA, share basic company details, and name a local contact for complaints.
Any social media company with half a million users needs a separate registration for each application or service. Registration forms ask for the company name, type of service, website, number of users in Pakistan at the time of registration, country of origin, a company authorisation letter, and details of an authorised grievance officer. That grievance officer is key: they are the person Pakistanis can officially approach when content breaks local rules.
What Are BIGO LIVE and Likee?
BIGO LIVE is primarily a live-streaming platform, while Likee focuses on creating, editing, and sharing short-form videos. Both apps are owned by the same parent group and are popular with younger users across South and Southeast Asia.
Bigo Live is a global social live-streaming platform. Bigo also owns Likee, a short video editing and hosting app. The two platforms together reach a large slice of Pakistan’s growing young, mobile-first audience.
One thing most coverage has skipped: the two apps carry different age ratings on the Google Play Store in Pakistan. Google Play in Pakistan rates Bigo Live for 18+. Likee’s Play Store listing in Pakistan says it is rated for 12+. Parents and guardians should be aware of these limits when their children use either app.
PTA’s Plan After Registration
PTA said it looks forward to strengthening collaboration with BIGO to enhance content moderation, promote responsible platform use, and ensure continued compliance with Pakistan’s laws. The registration marks an important step towards strengthening PTA’s engagement with major social media platforms and fostering a safe, responsible, and secure digital environment for users in Pakistan.
For users, registration means the two apps now have a formal channel with the regulator for handling complaints and removing content that breaks local laws. Before this, users had no guaranteed path to escalate a complaint about a stream or video directly through a local regulatory process.
This move fits a wider pattern. Pakistan has been steadily tightening its grip on big social media platforms. Other big platforms are already under similar pressure, with TikTok removing over 23 million videos from Pakistan for breaking its rules. As we noted in our earlier piece on Pakistan calling out tech giants’ algorithmic power, the government has been vocal about wanting more accountability from global platforms operating in the country.
A Brief History of BIGO in Pakistan
In July 2020, PTA blocked Bigo Live and gave TikTok a final warning. The ban was lifted on 30 July 2020 after BIGO agreed to work with the regulator on content concerns. That short block set the stage for a more structured relationship, and the formal registration process followed.
BIGO Service Pakistan was among the first companies to register with PTA under the same rules. In January 2022, it received registration certificates for BIGO LIVE and Likee, alongside Snack Video. The November 2026 ceremony represents a fresh, formal completion of the registration process under the current regulatory setup, reinforcing the commitment both sides have made to each other.
What This Means for Pakistani Users
Registration is not just paperwork. It shifts real responsibility onto the platforms. Under the 2021 rules, a registered platform must respond to PTA’s content removal orders, keep a local grievance officer reachable, and stay compliant with Pakistani law or risk being blocked. For everyday Pakistani users of BIGO LIVE and Likee, this brings three practical changes:
- Complaints go somewhere. You can report illegal or harmful content to PTA and the platform must act on it through a defined process.
- Faster takedowns. PTA can issue removal orders directly to the registered entity, cutting out delays caused by going through international parent companies.
- Clearer rules for creators. Pakistani content creators on both platforms now know what local rules apply, reducing the risk of sudden account action or a platform-wide ban.
For the platforms themselves, registration opens the door to a more stable, long-term presence in a market of over 220 million people, many of them young and very active on short-form video apps. It also signals to other unregistered platforms that PTA is serious about enforcement. Pakistan’s Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has made it clear that operating at scale in the country without formal registration is not an option it will ignore.
The 2021 rules themselves are available on the National Assembly of Pakistan’s official website for anyone who wants to read the full legal text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are BIGO LIVE and Likee banned in Pakistan?
No, Bigo Live is not banned in Pakistan in November 2026, and neither is Likee. Both apps are fully accessible on normal mobile data and Wi-Fi without a VPN. The registration makes their presence more official, not more restricted.
What law covers this registration?
PTA completed the registration 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.
What is Bigo Service Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.?
The registration places both platforms under a common local company, Bigo Service Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, which serves as the registered entity for regulatory engagement in Pakistan. This local company is PTA’s point of contact for all compliance and complaint matters related to both apps.
What can I do if I see harmful content on BIGO LIVE or Likee?
You can report content directly inside the apps using the in-app report button. You can also file a complaint with PTA through its official online complaint portal. Because the platforms are now formally registered, PTA has a direct line to the platform’s local grievance officer, so your complaint has a clearer path to action than it did before.
