"The number of people arrested for misusing TikTok has reached 11,” said Salam Abdulkhaliq, head of the Sulaimani Asayish (internal security forces) media team.
Eight of the arrests were made on Monday.
“The suspects have spread inappropriate content through their video clips and live broadcasts, and they have had negative impacts on individuals and families,” Abdulkhaliq said.
One of those arrested on Monday is a well-known social media influencer known as Farmani Lafa [Farman the Sandwich Guy], a popular street food chef who is famous for his live social media broadcasts.
Farman was arrested due to improper language during a live broadcast fight he had with Mam Latif, another well-known social media figure, Rudaw has learned.
Their social media posts have been deleted and their profile pictures replaced with the Asayish logo.
Farman remains in custody, an Asayish source speaking to Rudaw on the condition of anonymity, confirmed on Friday.
The suspects were arrested under Article 2 of the Kurdistan Region’s Law to Prevent the Misuse of Telecommunications Equipment that says anyone "who uses their devices as a means to threaten, defame, or post content that does not go along with the social standards” can be sentenced to up to five years in prison and also face up to a five-million dinar fine (about $3,450).
The law has drawn criticism from international human rights monitors that say it is used to suppress freedom of speech, especially when used against journalists.
A similar law exists in Iraq. The cybercrime law punishes anyone who "uses computers and the internet to attribute terms, images, sounds, or any other means that include libel and insult to others" with up to two years in prison and up to a five-million dinar fine.
