Nepal government has banned social media platform TikTok with immediate effect and decided to regulate other platforms to prevent their misuse.
“A meeting of the cabinet decided to ban TikTok with immediate effect,” said Rekha Sharma, Minister for Communication and government spokesperson.
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The ban on TikTok, arguably the most popular social media platform in the country, came five days after a government declaration regarding the regulation of all social media platforms, which also gave them three months to set up Nepal offices to address grievances.
However, in a follow up action, it singled out TikTok imposing a total ban on it.
Official sources said decisions regarding other platforms including ‘X’ and Facebook were pending.
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The government directives for social media users prohibited use of fake identities and engaging in defamatory activities. The platforms were also asked to reveal the real identity of the user and cooperate in investigations, in case of any complaints.
The Home Ministry had produced a report which said social media, especially TikTok, was being used to defame political leaders both in ruling and opposition sides, and most users were using fake identities for the purpose.
Home Ministry sources said a team from TikTok had visited Nepal in the wake of the study and had agreed to comply with government plans to regulate the platform.
Users in other platforms are expected to reveal their identity and stop making ‘defamatory’ comments soon in the light of the new regulation which government plans to execute fully in three months.
More than 1,600 TikTok-related cyber crime cases have been registered over the last four years in Nepal, according to local media reports. (Reuters) 
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