Nepal has taken a decisive step to ban TikTok, asserting that the popular short video app disrupts social structures within the nation, according to government officials. This move aligns with the actions of numerous countries that have implemented restrictions on TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese tech giant Bytedance, with India having previously banned it outright.

Rekha Sharma, Nepal’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology, explained that the decision stems from concerns about TikTok’s impact on social harmony and family structures. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal defended the ban, emphasizing a consensus reached among political parties after extensive discussions on addressing the app’s tendency to spread disharmony, disorder, and chaos in society.

Purushottam Khanal, chair of the Telecommunications Authority, has directed internet service providers to cut access to TikTok, as reported by Nepal Television. WorldLink Communications, the largest internet service provider in Nepal, has already complied with this order, and it is anticipated that other providers will follow suit soon.

According to Reuters, citing local media, Nepal has registered more than 1,600 TikTok-related cybercrime cases over the past four years, contributing to a growing demand for control over the app. This ban comes over three years after India blocked TikTok, citing concerns about a threat to sovereignty and integrity. Additionally, countries such as the United States and its Five Eyes intelligence alliance partners have imposed restrictions on TikTok, including bans on government-issued devices.

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