Deadly Protests in Nepal Over Social Media Ban
At least 16 people have lost their lives in Nepal after massive protests erupted against the government’s decision to ban several popular social media platforms. The demonstrations, which turned violent in the capital city of Kathmandu, were sparked by a sweeping order that restricted access to 26 platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Reddit, Pinterest, and Signal.
The ban came into effect at midnight last Thursday, after the government announced that these companies had failed to comply with new regulations. Only a handful of platforms, including TikTok, agreed to register under the government’s rules and were spared restrictions. Officials defended the move as an effort to curb hate speech, misinformation, and cybercrime, but the decision has been widely criticized at home and abroad.
For many Nepalis, the sudden shutdown was more than just an inconvenience. Communication with relatives overseas was disrupted, businesses that relied on social media for customers and visibility were hit hard, and the tourism industry was thrown into chaos. As frustration built up, tens of thousands of mostly young protesters gathered in Kathmandu to demand that the government lift the ban.
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When demonstrators tried to march toward parliament, police clashed with the crowds, using batons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons. The confrontation turned deadly, and according to police, 16 people died from serious injuries, including gunshot wounds. Hundreds of others were reportedly injured in the unrest. By Monday night, the government had imposed a curfew in parts of the capital in an attempt to restore order.
The ban and the violent crackdown have drawn international concern. Human rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the decision, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for free speech and press freedom in Nepal. In recent days, journalists themselves have taken to the streets, carrying placards that read, “No shutdown of social networks, no silencing of voices,” and “Democracy hacked, authoritarianism back.”
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, however, has stood firm. In a speech on Sunday, he argued that the independence of the nation must take priority over what he described as “the jobs of a handful of individuals.” He framed the restrictions as necessary to protect sovereignty and national dignity, dismissing criticism as an attack on Nepal’s authority.
This is not the first time social media has come under pressure in Nepal. TikTok was previously banned in 2023 for nine months before being reinstated under government terms. Now, with new draft bills under debate in parliament, stricter controls on online platforms and the press could soon become law, including fines and jail terms for content deemed harmful to “national interest.”
For many in Nepal, these events have raised fears of a shift toward authoritarianism. What began as a policy to regulate online platforms has now sparked one of the deadliest crackdowns in recent years, leaving the future of free expression in the country deeply uncertain.
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