Nepal's government has taken the decision to ban the widely popular social media app, TikTok, asserting that it has disrupted the country's "social harmony."
The ban was announced following a Cabinet meeting, and Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud confirmed the immediate ban.
"The government has decided to ban TikTok as it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform that was disrupting social harmony, goodwill, and the flow of indecent materials," Saud stated.
To ensure accountability of social media platforms, the government has also mandated that companies register, establish a liaison office in Nepal, pay taxes, and adhere to the country's laws and regulations.
The exact trigger for the ban remains unclear, and there has been no immediate response from TikTok regarding its compliance with Nepal's requests.
TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, has faced scrutiny in multiple countries due to concerns about potential data harvesting or serving Beijing's interests.
Several nations, including the United States, Britain, and New Zealand, have banned the app on government devices.
TikTok has consistently denied sharing user data with the Chinese government and has pledged not to do so upon request.
Notably, Nepal had previously banned all pornographic sites in 2018.
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