By Michelle Ndaga
At least 14 people have died and dozens more injured in Nepal as protests erupted over the government’s ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. The demonstrations, led largely by Generation Z, escalated outside the parliament building in Kathmandu, turning violent.
Protesters reportedly breached barricades and attempted to storm the parliament complex, prompting security forces to respond with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition. Some demonstrators clashed with police, set fire to an ambulance, and ferried the injured to hospitals on motorcycles.
The government justified the social media ban as a measure to regulate disinformation and internet fraud, citing the platforms’ failure to meet registration requirements. However, many citizens perceive the move as an infringement on freedom of expression. Platforms such as TikTok and Viber continue to operate after complying with local regulations, while protesters have reportedly used VPNs to bypass restrictions.
Authorities have imposed curfews and deployed soldiers in an effort to control the unrest. International human rights organizations have condemned the government’s heavy-handed response, highlighting the tension between state control of digital spaces and the youth’s demand for online freedom.
The situation remains volatile, and the government has yet to release an official statement regarding the casualties or the path forward for the banned platforms. The protests underscore the growing influence of tech-savvy youth in advocating for digital rights and freedom of expression in Nepal.
Sources: Reuters, The Sun, Al Jazeera
