Sema
Iraq’s Minister of Communications, Hiyam Al-Yasiri, has announced that her ministry has formally submitted a request to the Iraqi Parliament to ban the social media application TikTok, citing concerns over its content and its impact on Iraqi society.
In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Yasiri emphasized that the ministry acted in response to “thousands of appeals from most Iraqi families to stop and ban the application, as it contains many contents that are inappropriate for our people and families.”
Yasiri clarified that the decision to ban TikTok is beyond the sole authority of the Ministry of Communications and requires parliamentary approval. She expressed hope that the Iraqi Parliament would address the issue promptly, stating, “We are not the only ones who make the decisions, as we submitted a request, but we did not receive any response. We hope that the Iraqi parliament will issue a decision on this matter, and we will execute it.”
This move follows previous actions by Iraqi authorities concerning TikTok. In December 2024, the Central Bank of Iraq directed all licensed banks and financial institutions to suspend financial transactions with TikTok intermediaries within the country. This decision was linked to concerns over the app’s influence on the social fabric and its potential misuse.
TikTok has garnered a significant user base in Iraq, with approximately 31.95 million users aged 18 and over as of early 2024. The platform’s popularity, especially among the youth, has raised concerns among conservative segments of Iraqi society, who argue that certain content undermines societal norms and negatively impacts young people.
The Iraqi federal government’s consideration of a TikTok ban aligns with actions taken by other countries. Nations such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have expressed apprehensions about TikTok’s data security and its potential influence on societal values, leading to discussions and actions aimed at restricting or monitoring the app’s usage.
As the Iraqi Parliament deliberates on the proposed ban, the outcome will significantly impact TikTok’s operations within the country and may set a precedent for how Iraq addresses the regulation of social media platforms in the future.