Nepal: Nepal has banned the Chinese social media app TikTok, claiming that the platform is adversely affecting the “social harmony” in the South Asian country.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Mr. Narayan Prakash Saud commented that the app has been banned with immediate effect following a cabinet meeting. “The government has decided to ban TikTok as it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform that was disrupting social harmony, goodwill, and the flow of indecent materials,” Mr. Saud said.
China’s ByteDance-owned TikTok was previously banned by several countries, including India and Afghanistan, with the UK, Australia, and the European Union restricting its use.
In recent months, several Western countries have raised concerns about members of parliament and government using the app over allegations that the data is being misused by China.
TikTok has repeatedly denied the allegations and confirmed that it has never shared data with the Chinese government and will not do so in the future.
The decision comes days after Nepal introduced new rules to regulate social media in the country, including the setting up of liaison offices. Mr. Saud noted that the new rules have been brought in to make social media platforms more accountable. The government has asked the company to register and open a liaison office in Nepal, pay taxes, and follow the rule of the land.
Geri Tech @ Pexels
Nepal Congress General Secretary Mr. Gagan Thapa has questioned the government’s decision to ban the app and noted that restrictions should have been imposed instead of banning.
“The government’s decision should be rectified as it violates freedom of expression and individual freedom,” Mr. Thapa posted on social media platform X.
Several people on social media criticized the decision, saying that it would impact millions of TikTok users in Nepal who were using it as a means of income.