At least six individuals were killed in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, as protests broke out on Monday against the ban on 26 social media websites, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Snapchat, and Reddit.
Nepal’s new government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli imposed new regulations on social media firms to register locally and pay taxes. Officials state warnings repeatedly went unheeded, leading to the shutdown after midnight on September 4. The move came after a Supreme Court order on August 17 ordered the platforms to comply.
Registered apps such as Viber, TikTok, Wetalk, and Nimbuzz are still accessible, but Telegram and Global Diary are registering. Meta-owned Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, however, still haven’t begun. It was reported that even some firms which were paying taxes without the formal registration were blocked.
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Public Backlash
The prohibition rapidly kindled online anger, which rapidly spilled onto the streets. Nonviolent protests blossomed into a mass movement against corruption and government overreach. Protesters contend the laws are intended to squelch criticism, not raise money. TikTok, for example, has been charged with censoring posts at the government’s behest.
Gen-Z Takes Charge
Protesters, who dubbed themselves ‘Gen-Z,’ carried out rallies around the parliament through leaflets and social media posts. They blame politicians for stifling free speech and ignoring graft.
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Leading figures in Nepal’s entertainment sector have joined the fray. One of them was actor Hari Bansha Acharya, who posted on Facebook: “Today’s youth do more than just think, they ask questions. Why did this road collapse? Who is accountable? This is not a voice against the system but against those who misuse it.”
Singer-actor Prakash Saput also financially supported protesters, transferring NRs 25,000 each to two brothers in the demonstrations. He told them to drink lots of water and use the funds to support fellow participants, The Kathmandu Post said.
