The government of Nepal, during a Cabinet meeting on Monday, announced a nationwide ban on the social media platform TikTok. Minister for Communication Rekha Sharma conveyed the decision, emphasizing “negative effects of the app on social harmony and goodwill,” reports local newspaper Kantipur. Sharma affirmed that plans for the ban’s implementation are already in progress. The minister did not provide a timeline for when the ban is expected to take effect. A tweet made the rounds confirming the development.
The Communications Ministry, in conjunction with the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), has begun cooperative work to impose the prohibition. NTA Chief Purushottam Khanal reported that they have already started contacting internet service providers nationwide, instructing them to block access to TikTok.
The decision caused diverse reactions from stakeholders and opposition leaders throughout Nepal. Some, like Nepali Congress central committee member Min Bahadur Bishwokarma, agreed with the cabinet’s decision. Others, including Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, advocated for stricter regulation as a preferable alternative to an outright ban.
It is worth noting that Nepal is not the first country to take such a step. In June 2020, India banned close to a 100 Chinese apps, including TikTok, citing national security concerns. Other regions, including the US, Canada, the EU, New Zealand, and Australia, have all either banned or restricted the use of TikTok in some form.
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