Protests Erupt in Kathmandu Over Social Media Ban
In Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, police reportedly opened fire on protesters on Monday amidst demonstrations against a government ban on major social media platforms. As of Monday afternoon, officials reported 19 fatalities and around 150 injuries.
Late last week, the Nepalese government announced it would prohibit access to several significant platforms, including X, Facebook, and YouTube, due to their failure to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. This registration process gave social media companies just seven days to comply.
By Monday, only five platforms had met the government’s requirements, with TikTok being the only widely recognized name among them. Interestingly, TikTok had registered early, despite being previously criticized for spreading harmful content.
About 90% of Nepalis are online, and Facebook is particularly popular. The ban poses a serious threat to many small businesses that rely on social media for marketing and sales, which could lead to significant financial losses.
The registration demands included providing a contact person in Nepal, appointing a “complaint dealer,” and ensuring employees were accountable for self-regulation. Critics argue that these requirements are excessive, especially since many social media companies lack physical offices in the country. Some have also noted that the immediate registration order is based on laws still pending in Parliament.
The ban has stirred considerable unrest, especially among young people who depend on social media for everything from entertainment to political organization. The situation has been exacerbated by a widespread corruption scandal, causing some to suspect the government is trying to suppress criticism tied to China’s Belt and Road Initiative to avoid upsetting foreign investors.
The government maintains that regulating these platforms is critical to combating misinformation and protecting social harmony. However, judging by the scale of protests in Kathmandu, many young people seem to reject this justification.
Thousands of young demonstrators surged through the city towards Parliament, chanting slogans like “Stop social media ban” and “Youth against corruption.” This movement has been dubbed the “Gen Z Protest.”
As the protests intensified, police attempted to enforce a curfew at 12:30 PM local time, which only fueled further demonstrations across other cities. When protesters ignored the curfew, authorities resorted to water cannons, batons, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.
In the ensuing chaos, reports indicate that police switched to live ammunition as protesters approached a governmental building, leading to violent confrontations. Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of panic, with some protesters sustaining injuries from the gunfire.
“The police fired without warning. A bullet missed me, but my friend was hit,” a foreign journalist reported.
Another protester stated their determination to reclaim their country, mentioning that the social media ban was essentially the final trigger for widespread discontent against corruption and authoritarian governance.
As the situation remains tense, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday. Meanwhile, the curfew continues, and a contingent of military personnel has been dispatched to assist in its enforcement.
