Nepal lifts TikTok ban after blocking app over ‘social harmony’ concerns

TikTok said it was pleased to see the ban lifted.

Nepal has lifted its ban on TikTok less than a year after blocking the Chinese-owned application out of its stated concern for “social harmony”.

Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung announced the decision following a cabinet meeting.

The move comes after Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, who was sworn in last month after the collapse of the previous coalition government, issued a directive calling for the equal treatment of all social networking platforms, state-run National News Agency reported.

TikTok said it was pleased to see the ban lifted.

“The creativity and passion of our community has brought joy to households across Nepal and opened vital economic opportunities to incredibly talented creators and businesses. We’re excited to be able to continue enabling Nepali voices and creativity as we work to support the success story of Nepal,” a TikTok spokesperson said.

The previous government of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal banned the app in November, citing the spread of content that “disturbs social harmony and disrupts family structures and social relations”.