KUALA LUMPUR – Nepal has become the latest country to ban China’s social media platform TikTok, citing that its content “was detrimental to social harmony.”
According to the BBC, the mountainous country’s decision comes following the introduction of a new rule by its government that requires social media firms to set up liaison offices in the country.
The Nepali government had reportedly stated that while freedom of expression is a basic right, a large section of its society has criticised TikTok for encouraging a tendency of hate speech.
Several countries including neighbouring India have already banned the fast-growing app, currently with over one billion users, citing similar concerns.
In addition to countries, TikTok is also banned in the US state of Montana and the UK parliament’s network.
Nepal’s Communications and Information Technology minister Rekha Sharma had told BBC Nepali that the platform spread malicious content.
She was quoted as saying “the ban would come into effect immediately and telecom authorities have been directed to implement the decision”.
TikTok has come under heavy scrutiny from numerous governments over growing concerns that data could be passed to the Chinese government.
ByteDance, which is its parent company, had reportedly rejected the allegation.
Despite lagging behind the likes of Facebook and Instagram, TikTok’s growth among young people far outstrips its competitors.
More than 1,600 TikTok-related cybercrime cases have been registered over the last four years in Nepal, according to media reports.
According to a BBC Media Action report on media usage in Nepal, TikTok is the third most used platform nationally.
While YouTube and Facebook are popular among internet users of all age groups, TikTok is highly popular with younger people, with more than 80% of social media users aged between 16 and 24 using the platform.
Pakistan has temporarily banned the app at least four times since October 2020 while its online shopping service was shut in Indonesia last month. – November 14, 2023