The government in Nepal said on Monday that it was banning the popular social media app TikTok, saying the platform’s refusal to curb hate content was affecting “social harmony.”TikTok has more than a billion users globally, so the ban by a Himalayan country with a population of about 30 million is unlikely to significantly affect the app, but it is another ominous sign for the Chinese-owned company of broader efforts by governments around the world to restrict its use.
TikTok was among dozens of Chinese apps India banned in 2020, following a military standoff between the two countries in the Himalayas that remains unresolved.
The app has also been subjected to increased scrutiny and restrictions in the United States, Europe and Canada over concerns that sensitive data for users is being shared with the Chinese government.
Nepal finds itself pulled between its two giant neighbors, but the concern has been less about Chinese misuse and more about domestic harmony.
Officials cited the prevalence of content that they said was stoking religious hate, violence and sexual abuse and has led to clashes offline, forcing curfews and the deployment of the police.
Persons:
” TikTok, TikTok, curfews
Locations:
Nepal, United States, Europe, Canada