In a strategic move, Nepal’s newly appointed Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has lifted the previous administration’s ban on TikTok. The move is widely interpreted as an effort to strengthen diplomatic ties with China.
Previously, the Nepalese government had blocked TikTok, a platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, citing its failure to mitigate hate speech that was allegedly disrupting social peace. The ban was initially implemented after TikTok failed to comply with requests to control the spread of such content.
After the ban was lifted, a TikTok representative welcomed the decision, saying it would help users continue their creative and expressive activities in Nepal.
This turnaround not only reflects the shift in Nepal’s domestic digital governance but also signals a potential shift in its international relations, particularly with China, by strengthening bilateral ties through digital cooperation.
