Kathmandu: The government has decided to lift the ban on TikTok, a Chinese social networking platform that allows users to create and share short videos.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has recommended removing the ban, and the proposal has been forwarded to the Council of Ministers for approval, a ministry source told The DMN News.
The TikTok ban was initially imposed on November 13, 2023, by the government led by then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, citing concerns about the platform disrupting social harmony. Fourteen petitions were subsequently filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the decision as an infringement on freedom of expression. The court has scheduled a hearing for September 26.
A source said, “The Minister for Communications has signed the decision to lift the ban and sent it to the Cabinet for final approval.” Once approved, the Ministry will instruct the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to lift the ban.
Pressure to reverse the decision has been mounting, especially after Ferdous Mottakin, Head of TikTok South Asia, reached out to government officials, including the prime minister and the Minister for Communications, requesting the ban be lifted. The government, under KP Sharma Oli’s leadership, has shown a positive inclination towards this request.
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