KATHMANDU (ANN/KATHMANDU POST)– The government of Nepal is preparing to lift a nearly nine-month ban on the popular Chinese app TikTok, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The ban was initially imposed on November 13 last year by the administration of then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, citing concerns over the app’s adverse effects on social harmony. However, the current administration, led by KP Sharma Oli, is now looking to reinstate TikTok with new regulatory measures in place.
Despite the public holiday, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology convened an hour-long meeting on Tuesday to discuss TikTok’s future in Nepal. Observers note that the issue is part of a larger global debate, positioning TikTok at the centre of geopolitical tensions between the United States and China.
Ten days ago, TikTok’s South Asia division reached out to Nepal’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, via email, requesting the ban be lifted and assuring compliance with all of the country’s rules and regulations. Minister Gurung, however, has declined to comment on the matter.
The TikTok ban was enacted shortly after the introduction of the ‘Directives on the Operation of Social Networking 2023,’ which mandated social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube to establish liaison offices in Nepal. The government argued that these directives were necessary to address the growing concerns over the lack of local representatives to handle users’ issues and to facilitate the removal of objectionable content.
The directives also outlined a 19-point code of conduct for users of social media platforms, prohibiting the creation of fake IDs and the sharing of content that incites hatred against any gender, community, caste, religion, or profession. The new rules further banned posts promoting illegal activities, such as child labour, human trafficking, and polygamy.
A top official at the Ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the government is now positively inclined towards lifting the ban. “The letter from TikTok’s South Asia office stated its commitment to adhere to all the stipulated regulations,” the official said.
A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Wednesday to further discuss the issue. The proposal to lift the ban will then be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. While the exact date for lifting the ban remains uncertain, the decision will likely be made during the next Cabinet meeting.
Since the ban, TikTok has written seven letters to the Nepal government, highlighting the financial losses incurred by both the country and the company. However, another Ministry official noted that while financial losses are a concern, adherence to rules and regulations remains the government’s priority.
In the wake of the ban, many users resorted to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass local censorship, although a significant number have since migrated to Facebook and Instagram reels for sharing video content. Sudhir Parajuli, President of the Internet Service Providers’ Association of Nepal, mentioned that VPN downloads surged immediately following the ban, increasing international bandwidth consumption by 20 per cent. “As most users access TikTok via VPN, the business impact has been minimal,” he added.
Internet service providers reported that TikTok previously accounted for nearly 40 per cent of Nepal’s internet bandwidth consumption. Despite the ban, overall internet usage has not declined due to continued access via VPNs. Prior to the ban, the association estimated there were around 2.2 million TikTok users in Nepal.
The former government’s decision to ban TikTok faced widespread criticism from experts and the public, who viewed it as an attack on freedom of expression. Experts argue that banning technology is ineffective, as users often find alternative means to access services, making a complete ban counterproductive. Instead, they advocate for the adoption of Regulatory Technology (RegTech) to enhance compliance processes.
According to DataReportal’s Digital 2021: Nepal report, the country had 13.5 million Facebook users as of early 2024, along with significant user bases on Facebook Messenger, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority’s management information system report for mid-April indicated that the country had 42.3 million internet subscribers, with 14.23 million using fixed (wired) internet and 28.06 million relying on mobile broadband.
