Protesters in Nepal clash with police as govt blocks social media

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Massive crowds flooded the streets of Nepal’s capital on Monday to protest the government’s decision to block access to several social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube. The government claimed that these platforms had failed to register and comply with government regulations.

The protesters broke through barricades and forced police to retreat as they surrounded the Parliament building. Despite police firing tear gas and water cannon, they were outnumbered, and protesters managed to enter the Parliament complex.

The tense situation led the government to impose a curfew in key areas around Parliament, the government secretariat, and the presidential house.

Chanting slogans like “Stop the ban on social media, stop corruption not social media,” the protesters, waving national flags, demanded the restoration of access to the blocked platforms. The rally, dubbed the protest of Gen Z, highlighted the concerns of the younger generation born between 1995 and 2010.

The government had issued multiple notices to about two dozen social media platforms to register officially in Nepal. Those that failed to comply were blocked, while platforms like TikTok and Viber, which registered, continued to operate.

The government’s move coincided with a bill presented in Parliament aimed at ensuring that social platforms are managed responsibly. Critics, however, view the bill as a means of censorship and silencing dissent online.

Nepal had previously banned TikTok in 2023, citing concerns about social harmony and indecent content. The ban was lifted after TikTok executives committed to complying with local laws, including restrictions on pornographic content.