At least 19 people have been killed in Nepal during protests against a government ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and X. The ban, imposed last week after platforms missed a registration deadline under new regulations, has sparked widespread outrage and accusations of authoritarianism.
Tens of thousands of young demonstrators, many in school uniforms, gathered in Kathmandu and other cities on Monday to protest the ban and broader issues of corruption and nepotism. Clashes erupted when protesters broke through barriers and attempted to storm the parliament building, with police responding with live ammunition, teargas, batons and water cannon. Police confirmed 19 deaths, mostly from bullet wounds to the head and chest, and over 200 injuries.
The protests, dubbed the “gen Z protest,” have been fueled by viral TikTok videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary citizens with the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children. The ban, which also affected LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit and Signal, has disrupted businesses and tourism, leaving many unable to contact relatives abroad. TikTok, which complied with registration, was exempted and became a key tool for mobilisation.
The UN human rights office has called for a prompt and transparent investigation into the state violence. Nepal’s home minister, Ramesh Lekhak, resigned in response to the killings. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli defended the ban, stating he would not tolerate the “nation being undermined,” but critics, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, warn it sets a “dangerous precedent for press freedom.”
