A court in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has directed the government to ban a popular smartphone video app known as “TikTok,” ruling that the app was “encouraging pornography.” Wednesday’s order also tells the media to refrain from telecasting videos made using the app.

The Madurai-based bench of the Madras High Court comprising judges N. Kirubakaran and S.S. Sundar noted that children who were using the app were vulnerable to online sexual predators. “The dangerous aspect is that inappropriate content including language and pornography is being posted in the TikTok app. There is a possibility of children contacting strangers directly and luring them,” the court said. “Without understanding the dangers involved, it is unfortunate that our children are testing these apps,” the bench added.

“The government has the social responsibility to prevent these kinds of applications, and also to take action against persons who are making use of them. It is always open to the authorities to take action without waiting for orders from this court,” the judges said. The government has been directed to prevent the app from being downloaded as an interim measure. The court also asked India’s federal government if it will enact a statute similar to the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) to prevent online child abuse.

TikTok is an app that allows users to create and share short videos with special effects and has over 54 million monthly active users in India.