Several dead as protests in Nepal against social media ban turns violent
by Sudeshna Panda · KalingaTVAdvertisement
Kathmandu: Protests turned violent in Kathmandu as people staged a massive protest against the ban on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other social media sites, leading to clashes between police and protesters.
Protestors climbed over police barricades as they staged a massive protest against the ban on social media sites. GenZ protestors stormed into Nepal’s Parliament as a mark of protest. In the protest several people died and many others were injured.
It includes the President’s residence, Shital Niwas area, Maharajgunj, the vice-president’s residence in Lainchaur, all sides of Singha Durbar, the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar, and surrounding areas. It is worth mentioning that, the Government of Nepal on September 4 decided to block 26 social media platforms for operating without registration.
The Kathmandu district administration office (DAO) declared the curfew from 12:30 PM to 10 PM on Monday. The Kathmandu Post reported that later restrictions were extended to cover the residences of the President, Prime Minister, and Vice-President and Singha Durbar following the protests becoming violent in Nepal.
The meeting held on Thursday, attended by Communication and Information Technology Minister Prithivi Subba Gurung, ministry officials, representatives from the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, telecom operators, and internet service providers, made the decision.
Advertisement
According to ministry officials, all unregistered platforms will be restricted with immediate effect. The Ministry has already begun issuing letters to the concerned companies. The government had set a seven-day deadline for mandatory registration, which expired on Wednesday past midnight.
However, major social media platforms such as Meta (Facebook, Alphabet, X, Reddit, and LinkedIn have not yet contacted the Ministry regarding the process. Officials had earlier warned that platforms failing to comply would face a gradual suspension of their services in Nepal.
Currently, platforms such as Viber, TikTok, Wetalk, and Nimbuzz are registered, while Telegram and Global Diary are in the process. Widely used platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), and WhatsApp have yet to initiate registration.
This move follows a Supreme Court order and a recent ministerial meeting led by Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology clarified that the restriction will apply nationwide and that any unregistered platforms found operating in Nepal will also face the same ban. The government has emphasised that platforms may resume operation once they complete registration, ensuring compliance with national regulations.
Advertisement