Nepal Lifts Social Media Ban After Deadly Protests Leave 19 Dead

Nepal’s government lifted its week-long ban on major social media platforms Tuesday, a day after violent street protests in Kathmandu left at least 19 people dead and scores injured.

Facebook, X, and YouTube were among the sites blocked last week after officials said the companies had failed to register under new government rules. The move sparked a massive rally Monday around Parliament, where tens of thousands gathered to denounce the restrictions. Police opened fire on demonstrators, with doctors at the National Trauma Center reporting that many victims had gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned late Monday during an emergency Cabinet meeting called by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. Authorities also imposed curfews around Parliament, the presidential residence, the government secretariat, and two other cities.

The government has argued the ban was part of a broader effort to ensure social platforms are “properly managed, responsible and accountable.” A pending bill would require companies to register locally and establish liaison offices. Critics say the legislation amounts to censorship and a crackdown on dissent.

While TikTok, Viber, and several other platforms registered and continued operating, Meta, Google, and Elon Musk’s X did not respond to requests for comment.

Outside Parliament, protesters — many of them young Nepalis calling the rally a “Gen Z protest” — waved national flags and chanted: “Stop the ban on social media. Stop corruption, not social media.”

Nepal previously banned TikTok in 2023 over concerns about “social harmony,” but lifted the restriction last year after the company pledged to comply with local laws.