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Kathmandu, 20 August (HS). Due to pressure from China, the Nepal government has prepared to lift the ban on the social networking site TikTok. After the Chinese side repeatedly raised questions on the ban on TikTok, the government has started working to lift the ban.
The then government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had issued social media regulation guidelines and decided to ban TikTok in a cabinet meeting on 13 November 2023. The government had decided to ban it, arguing that TikTok is not following the laws and guidelines of Nepal and is spreading distortion in the society and destroying social harmony and family and cultural traditions.
Before taking this decision, Prime Minister Prachanda had consulted with the then ruling party Nepali Congress and other parties including the opposition UML. At that time, all the major parties had given silent support to the government's ban.
Since the ban was imposed, TikTok has been making continuous efforts to get the ban lifted by giving a written commitment to abide by all the laws and conditions of Nepal. Since the Nepal government has not lifted the ban, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chan Song has been expressing his opposition to the ban on TikTok in every political meeting.
According to the Prime Minister's Chief Advisor Bishnu Rimal, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed officials to do the necessary homework regarding lifting the ban on TikTok. He has asked the Ministry of Communications and his team to discuss TikTok's commitment and bring the necessary proposal to the Cabinet.
An official of the Prime Minister's Office said that since geopolitics is also involved in the ban on TikTok, it will not be easy to take a decision. The Prime Minister is of the opinion that TikTok should not be banned, as he is ready to accept the standards set by the government. He also sought consent from the leadership level of the ruling partner Nepali Congress to lift the ban on TikTok. Sources claim that the ruling constituent party Nepali Congress is looking positive towards lifting the ban on TikTok.
TikTok has also repeatedly corresponded with the Nepal government to lift the ban. Just a week ago, TikTok's South Asia Public Policy and Government Relations unit wrote a letter to Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvisubba Gurung, reiterating that they are committed to following all the laws of Nepal. TikTok sent a letter stating that every legal provision of Nepal is acceptable to them, after which the Communications Minister discussed the matter with the Prime Minister.