The government is preparing to lift the ban on the social media platform TikTok. This comes nearly ten months after the ban was imposed by the government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
According to sources, the initiative to lift the ban is being pursued under the direction of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. He has already instructed the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to take swift action on the matter.
Government spokesperson and Minister of Communications, Prithvi Subba Gurung, is scheduled to discuss the matter with TikTok's representatives in Nepal, following the directive to begin preparations for lifting the ban.
A source from Baluwatar stated, "There is ongoing discussion about lifting the ban on TikTok, and the Ministry of Communications has already been instructed to handle the necessary procedures."
The Ministry of Communications will present a proposal to the Cabinet, and once the proposal is approved, the necessary actions will be taken to lift the ban.
The source added, "Since the ban was imposed by the Cabinet, the decision to lift it must also come from the Cabinet. The process to bring the proposal from the Ministry of Communications to the Cabinet has already begun."
An official from the Ministry of Communications also confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding lifting the ban on TikTok. Minister Gurung is planning to hold talks with TikTok's Nepal representatives soon.
Sources suggest that the Oli government may decide to lift the ban on TikTok within the next few days. Some speculate that geopolitical factors might also be influencing the decision to impose and lift the ban.
Reason for the Ban 10 Months Ago:
TikTok had become a popular platform for entertainment in Nepal, quickly expanding its reach. However, some videos were deemed to have a negative impact on society. The government, under Prachanda's leadership, decided to ban TikTok on Kartik 27, 2080 (November 13, 2023), arguing that TikTok's content, including live streams and short videos, did not align with Nepali societal values and was disrupting social harmony.
TikTok representatives had written to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on Mangsir 20, 2080 (December 6, 2023), requesting a reconsideration of the ban and expressing their willingness to register in Nepal. They also pledged to remove objectionable videos and urged the government to lift the ban, but the Prachanda government did not respond.
Despite TikTok's efforts, including sending high-level officials to Nepal in January 2080 (2024) to negotiate the lifting of the ban, the government remained firm in its decision. Over ten TikTok representatives met with political leaders and held multiple discussions with then-Minister of Communications Rekha Sharma, but the ban was not lifted during Prachanda's tenure.
Fourteen cases were filed against the ban in the Supreme Court, but a single bench of Justice Binod Sharma refused to issue an interim order to halt the implementation of the government's decision, stating that there was no "irreparable damage."
China's Reaction Post-Ban:
Following a visit to China and the United States, Prime Minister Prachanda returned on Aswin 13, 2080 (September 29, 2023), and the Cabinet decided to impose the TikTok ban shortly after. This decision led to dissatisfaction from China, which accused Nepal of making an "anti-China" decision. China's ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, expressed disappointment directly to Prachanda, suggesting that the decision contradicted the efforts made to ensure a successful visit to China.
In response, Prachanda acknowledged that he had not anticipated such a strong reaction from China and explained that the decision was influenced by pressure from various leaders and parties, who viewed TikTok as a significant problem.
