In November 2023, Nepal’s government banned TikTok, the world’s most popular social media app. The decision was made at a cabinet meeting and based on the fact that the app promoted hate speech and vulgarity and disrupted social cohesion. This action comes after several rules to strengthen content management on social media platforms, including a mandate forcing these companies to open offices in Nepal to handle user complaints better. One must explore the multiple circumstances at play to understand the logic behind this limitation.
Nepal’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, emphasized that TikTok threatened family structures, relationships, and societal peace. Over 1,600 TikTok-related cybercrime charges in the last four years significantly affected the government’s decision. These cases addressed a broad range of concerns, such as digital deceit, cyberbullying, and misrepresentation, which significantly impacted social peace and security. Despite numerous government demands, TikTok’s inability to fully address these concerns led to a harsh ban.
The Nepali government’s restriction on TikTok is compatible with its broader regulatory objectives. The ‘Directives on the Operation of Social Networking 2023’ require social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube to establish liaison offices in Nepal. This aims to guarantee swifter responses to user complaints and improved content management. The directive also prohibits content associated with terrorism, narcotics, false news, sexual exploitation, hate speech, and unauthorised private photographs. Noncompliance with these regulations may lead to comparable prohibitions on other platforms.
The prohibition has elicited a diverse array of responses in Nepal. Critics, such as political leaders and civil society organisations, contend that the action is politically motivated and violates the right to express oneself. Gagan Thapa, the General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, characterised the prohibition as an attempt to restrict personal freedom under the pretext of regulation. He proposed that, although regulation is essential to prevent the exploitation of social media, the complete shutdown of platforms is excessive. Balen Shah, the Mayor of Kathmandu, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the prohibition, citing the inability to resolve false accounts and doctored content despite numerous attempts to engage with TikTok and local authorities. Similarly, civil society organisations have condemned the ban, emphasising its detrimental impact on small businesses and content creators that depend on TikTok for revenue generation and marketing.
The ban has substantially affected content creators and modest enterprises in Nepal. Many modest businesses used TikTok as a cost-effective marketing instrument to reach a broad audience without the need for substantial advertising budgets. Uncertainty now confronts content creators who had previously established substantial followings and generated income through the platform. The economic aspect of the prohibition emphasises the more extensive implications of such regulatory actions on entrepreneurial activities and digital economies.
Furthermore, Nepal’s recent ban on TikTok reflects more significant regional and geopolitical developments. In June 2020, India became the first South Asian nation to ban TikTok. Concerns about data privacy and geopolitical conflicts prompted this action. Many Western countries, notably the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, have placed restrictions on the application owing to national security concerns. Pakistan has periodically restricted its use. While the reasons for the ban in Nepal may vary, it is evident that regional and global trends have played a significant role.
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