Nepal has banned China’s TikTok due to concerns about its content’s impact on “social harmony,” following a new regulation mandating social media companies to establish offices in the country.
The ban comes amid TikTok being banned by multiple nations, including India, Montana in the US, and restricted in the UK Parliament’s network.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Rekha Sharma stated to the media that TikTok was disseminating harmful content, enforcing an immediate ban and instructing telecom authorities to execute the decision.
However, Gagan Thapa of the Nepali Congress, part of the coalition government, criticized the move, viewing it as a limitation on freedom of expression, suggesting a focus on platform regulation instead.
TikTok’s data privacy practices have raised concerns globally, although its parent company, ByteDance, has refuted allegations of data sharing with the Chinese government.
Despite trailing behind platforms like Facebook and Instagram, TikTok’s rapid growth among young demographics surpasses its competitors.
Nepal has reported over 1,600 cybercrime cases associated with TikTok in the past four years, with the platform ranking as the third most utilized nationwide, according to a report.
While YouTube and Facebook attract users across all age groups in Nepal, TikTok predominantly appeals to younger demographics, with more than 80% of social media users aged 16 to 24 engaging on the platform.
Pakistan has intermittently banned TikTok since October 2020, and Indonesia recently restricted its online shopping service.
Source-BBC
