Nepal has made the decision to prohibit TikTok, the popular short video app, due to its disruptive impact on the nation’s social fabric, according to government officials.
The move follows similar restrictions imposed by various countries on TikTok, owned by the Chinese tech giant Bytedance, with India having previously banned its use entirely.
Rekha Sharma, Nepal’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology, stated in a press conference on Monday, “Considering how TikTok is disrupting our social harmony, and the impact it’s having on our family and social structures, the cabinet has decided to ban TikTok for the moment.”
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal defended the decision, emphasizing that it resulted from a consensus among political parties to curb the spread of disharmony, disorder, and chaos in society.
Purushottam Khanal, chair of the Telecommunications Authority, instructed internet service providers to block access to the app.
WorldLink Communications, the largest internet service provider in Nepal, has complied with the order, and other providers are expected to follow suit.
Reports indicate that over the last four years, Nepal has registered more than 1,600 TikTok-related cybercrime cases, contributing to a growing demand for control over the app.
This move comes over three years after India’s ban on TikTok and other Chinese apps, citing a “threat to sovereignty and integrity.”
The United States and its intelligence alliance partners have also imposed restrictions on TikTok, with concerns about its usage on government-issued devices.
In response, the White House and Australia have taken steps to remove the app from such devices.
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