Nepal is banning TikTok over hate content, officials say

RUKUM WEST, Nepal – The government in Nepal said on Monday it is banning the popular social-media app TikTok, saying the platform’s refusal to curb hate content was affecting “social harmony”.

TikTok has more than one billion users globally, so the ban by a Himalayan country with a population of about 30 million is unlikely to significantly affect the app.

But it is another ominous sign for the Chinese-owned company of broader efforts by governments around the world to restrict its use.

TikTok was among dozens of Chinese apps India banned in 2020, following a military stand-off between the two countries in the Himalayas that remains unresolved.

The app has also been subjected to increased scrutiny and restrictions in the United States, Europe and Canada over concerns that sensitive data of users is being shared with the Chinese government.

Nepal finds itself pulled between its two giant neighbours.

But the concern has been less about Chinese misuse and more about domestic harmony.

Officials cited the prevalence of content that they said was stoking religious hate, violence and sexual abuse and has led to clashes offline, forcing the imposition of curfews and the deployment of police.

The toxic content includes sexism and casteism.

But a particularly hot issue has been virtual attacks on TikTok between Hindus, Muslims and some indigenous communities over the slaughter of cows, which are seen as sacred among a large number of Hindus.

“Our social harmony, family structure and family relations are being disturbed by social media, by TikTok,” said Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma, after approval of the ban by the Cabinet of ministers.

“The decision to ban TikTok will be effective immediately,” Ms Sharma said.

But telecommunications companies must still put the ban into effect. It is not clear when users would no longer have access.

TikTok representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

Nepali officials said they resorted to the ban after TikTok declined to address concerns about troubling content, even after the government reached out on repeated occasions.

It last raised the issue with TikTok representatives nine days ago, to no avail, said Mr Narendra K.C., an adviser to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

He said Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha told the Cabinet on Monday that removing individual videos would be technologically difficult for the Nepali authorities, leading him to propose a ban on the app itself.

TikTok’s popularity has jumped in Nepal since the coronavirus pandemic, reaching about 2.2 million active users. The app is used by some users to vent anger at the government and politicians.

Some journalists and activists have expressed worries that the government is trying to curb free speech under the guise of protecting social harmony.

Mr Taranath Dahal, the founder of Freedom Forum, which advocates free speech in Nepal, said the government’s process for banning the platform lacks transparency and raises concerns that the country “is also heading towards building a controlled society”.

Mr Dahal said the government had introduced a new directive for social media platforms only a few days ago, giving the companies three months to comply. He said the decision to “abruptly” shut down one platform that is not significantly different from the others goes against Nepal’s “image of a liberal democracy”. NYTIMES