Nepal has just become the latest nation to join the list of countries that have banned the usage of TikTok. The micro-video sharing platform has stirred a lot of debates around privacy and security concerns as well as content moderation. Let’s take a closer look at why the South Asian nation has imposed the ban on the app along with a list of significant countries who have done the same in the recent past.
Nepal’s TikTok Ban, explained
The Himalayan country has banned TikTok and the government has blamed the platform’s content for affecting social harmony. Recently, Nepal introduced a new rule for social media companies to establish liaison offices within their geographical territory.
Nepal bans TikTok and says it disrupts social harmony https://t.co/v1rm5HeKHt
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 13, 2023
Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma stated that the platform spread malicious content and this led to the ban. According to officials, TikTok’s content spreaded religious hate and violence and led to a rise in offline clashes in Nepal.
The opposition party Nepali Congress criticized the ban and claimed it would affect freedom of speech and expression. Some called for regulating TikTok without directly banning it in the country which has a population of over 30 million people.
Owned by ByteDance, TikTok has faced global scrutiny over its data security and privacy issues especially in recent years. Nations around the world have been apprehensive about the app potentially transferring user data to the Chinese government.
Countries that have banned TikTok
Apart from Nepal, several other nations around the world have imposed bans on TikTok on various levels. India and Afghanistan have effectively banned the app with the former being the first major nation to enforce a sweeping ban on TikTok and other Chinese apps.
Other countries have also either put up temporary bans on TikTok to censor their content or prohibit their government’s officials from using the app on their phone due to security concerns. Countries that don’t permit TikTok usage among officials include:
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Latvia
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
Tricky situation in the United States
TikTok has faced a tricky situation in the United States as the app has raised concerns over data privacy and its ties to the Chinese government and yet 150 million people use it. The US government has been vocal about pressing ByteDance to divest its operations or face a potential ban. In May, Montana became the first state to pass a ban on TikTok.
Furthermore, federal agencies were instructed to remove TikTok from government devices even though there is no official legislation to enforce a nationwide ban on the app. The platform’s data protection regulations have been a subject of debate in Congressional hearings. The White House does not allow phones that carry the app.
