The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has instructed internet service providers to lift the ban on TikTok, following a Cabinet decision from August 22. In accordance with the government’s directive, the authority issued a notice on Friday, allowing the popular video-sharing platform to operate once again.
The ban, which lasted nine months, was officially lifted by the government on August 22, 2023. However, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has been given a three-month window to comply with specific terms and conditions set by the government. Representatives from TikTok have already visited Kathmandu and met with officials from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, expressing their willingness to follow the government’s guidelines.
The original ban was imposed after the government introduced the ‘Directives on the Operation of Social Networking 2023’ in November last year, which aimed to address user complaints and ensure content moderation. The absence of TikTok representatives in Nepal had made it difficult to handle user concerns, prompting the restriction.
The directives also outlined a 19-point code of conduct for users on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Instagram, banning activities such as creating fake accounts or posting content that incites hatred or promotes illegal actions like human trafficking, child labor, or polygamy.
