Nepal has banned the Chinese-owned app TikTok, with the government stating that its content was detrimental to social harmony. The decision comes days after the country introduced a new rule requiring social media firms to set up liaison offices in Nepal.
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma told the BBC Nepali that the platform spread malicious content. She added that the ban would come into effect immediately and telecom authorities have been directed to implement the decision.
However, Gagan Thapa, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress party, which is part of the coalition government, questioned the ban. He argued it was an attempt to curb freedom of expression and that officials should focus on regulating the platform instead.
Nepal is the latest country to restrict TikTok, following bans in India, Montana in the US, and the UK Parliament. The app has faced global scrutiny over concerns that user data could be passed to the Chinese government, allegations rejected by its parent company ByteDance.
Local media reports indicate that more than 1,600 TikTok-related cyber crime cases have been registered in Nepal over the last four years. Despite this, the platform remains highly popular among young people, with over 80% of social media users aged 16 to 24 using it in the country.
