KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s government lifted a ban on social media platforms on Tuesday, just a day after violent protests claimed the lives of at least 19 individuals. Major platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and YouTube, were banned last week amid growing tensions over government efforts to regulate social media.
In the capital city of Kathmandu, police fired upon demonstrators protesting the government's proposals to regulate social media as a part of broader initiatives aimed at ensuring platforms operate ‘responsibly’ and with oversight. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on Monday following increasing outrage during an emergency Cabinet meeting called by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli.
Protest rallies erupted near the Parliament building, with thousands expressing their anger at authorities who claimed that many social networks had failed to comply with registration demands set by the government. The proposed regulations have been widely condemned as tools for censorship and suppression of opposition voices.
As the unrest unfolded, many gathered at the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu, a central hospital, to donate blood for those injured during the clashes.
“Stop the ban on social media! Stop corruption, not social media,” chanted protesters who identified themselves as representatives of the younger generation, calling their rally a protest of Gen Z.
Despite the government lifting the ban, questions remain regarding its broader regulatory agenda that civil rights groups warn might infringe upon free speech and fundamental rights. The unrest follows past instances where social media platforms have been targeted in similar governmental crackdowns, reflecting ongoing tensions between digital expression and governmental control in Nepal.
In the capital city of Kathmandu, police fired upon demonstrators protesting the government's proposals to regulate social media as a part of broader initiatives aimed at ensuring platforms operate ‘responsibly’ and with oversight. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on Monday following increasing outrage during an emergency Cabinet meeting called by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli.
Protest rallies erupted near the Parliament building, with thousands expressing their anger at authorities who claimed that many social networks had failed to comply with registration demands set by the government. The proposed regulations have been widely condemned as tools for censorship and suppression of opposition voices.
As the unrest unfolded, many gathered at the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu, a central hospital, to donate blood for those injured during the clashes.
“Stop the ban on social media! Stop corruption, not social media,” chanted protesters who identified themselves as representatives of the younger generation, calling their rally a protest of Gen Z.
Despite the government lifting the ban, questions remain regarding its broader regulatory agenda that civil rights groups warn might infringe upon free speech and fundamental rights. The unrest follows past instances where social media platforms have been targeted in similar governmental crackdowns, reflecting ongoing tensions between digital expression and governmental control in Nepal.
