Nepal Lifts TikTok Ban, Orders ISPs To Remove Restrictions

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has instructed all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to lift the ban on TikTok following a directive from the Council of Ministers. This decision, made on August 22, aligns with the Cabinet’s choice to reverse the ban, initially imposed in November 2023 under the administration of former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, according to an official notice from the NTA.

The NTA confirmed the lifting of restrictions in a statement on Friday: “As per the government’s decision, made during the Cabinet meeting on August 22, to lift the ban on TikTok, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority has issued directives to all relevant internet and mobile service providers to remove the restriction until further notice.” This directive was authorized under Section 15 of the Telecommunications Act, 1997.

Dahal’s administration had introduced the ban after concerns about the misuse of the platform. The government also released the “Directives on the Operation of Social Networking 2024,” which outlined 19 prohibitions for social media platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. These regulations aimed to manage content and address complaints regarding inappropriate material, as well as to address the lack of official representatives from these companies in Nepal.

However, the ban was met with strong opposition, particularly from users and legal experts who argued it violated freedom of expression. Fourteen writ petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the ban and seeking an interim order to lift it. While the court did not issue an immediate stay, the petitions are still under review, according to the NTA notice.

The ban reversal occurred after KP Sharma Oli assumed leadership as Prime Minister, forming a new alliance between his Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) and the Nepali Congress. On August 22, Oli’s government decided to lift the ban, with ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, agreeing to comply with Nepalese regulations.

ByteDance has been given three months to fulfill specific conditions set by Nepali authorities, allowing the app, which has around two million users in Nepal, to resume its operations. This development marks an important step in balancing social media regulation and freedom of expression in Nepal.

Although the ban has been lifted, the Supreme Court is still set to hear the petitions challenging the restriction. The court’s final ruling will be closely observed as it may establish a precedent for social media governance in the country. The Dahal administration had justified the original ban by claiming TikTok was disrupting societal harmony. The court’s decision on the matter remains pending.