KATHMANDU: The government decided to put a ban TikTok, a short-form video hosting site, on November 13, 2023, stating that its content was detrimental to social harmony.
However, a snap survey by Himal Press shows many prominent leaders and parliament members are active on the platform despite the ban. While the general public is barred from using the platform, people at the policy-making level can post video clips of their daily activities regularly.
Among the active TikTok users is Nepali Congress (NC) leader and Minister for Health and Population Minister Pradeep Poudel. He has increased his activity on TikTok after taking charge of the health ministry. On Sunday, he posted a video of himself talking on the phone while getting out of his official car and entering the ministry on his account “Honorable Health Minister”.
Poudel has posted more than seven videos on TikTok since becoming minister.
Another leader using TikTok is NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa. Thapa has been posting videos of various activities through his personal TikTok account. A month ago, he posted an interview that he gave to a television program.
Gyanendra Bahadur Shahi, Chief Whip of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, is also active on TikTok. Two days ago, he posted a video of his interview. He has posted more than a dozen videos on TikTok in the past two months.
Brinda Kathayat, a member of parliament from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, is also using TikTok. She posts videos of various activities.
NC leader Ram Hari Khatiwada operates a TikTok account with his name. Few days ago, he posted an interview on his TikTok account.
Kamal Thapa, chairperson of RPP Nepal, is also active on TikTok.
Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli was also active on TikTok. However, he hasn’t posted any video since the platform was banned. Former Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has also not posted anything since the ban on the platform.
Minister Appears Unaware of the Ban
Health Minister Poudel appeared unaware of the TikTok ban. “My TikTok account has been managed by my secretariat from the beginning. They are still managing it,” he told Himal Press, adding that his staff might be using TikTok to disseminate information. “I will inquire my secretariat about it.”
Sabin Mudbari Thapa, personal secretary to NC General Secretary Thapa claimed that Thapa is not very active on TikTok. “He is not actively using TikTok now. Sometimes people create video clips of him and post on TikTok,” he said, adding that Thapa has also expressed concern about this issue.
Kathayat said she creates TikTok videos and sends them to a friend in Australia who posts them on her behalf. She posted a video just a day ago.
Opposition to the Ban
The government decided to ban TikTok in Nepal on November 13, 2023, citing its negative impact on social harmony. NC General Secretary Thapa had criticized this decision, calling it a backward step by the government. UML leader Bishnu Rimal also criticized the decision.
Shishir Khanal, a leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, demanded that the government immediately withdraw the decision to ban TikTok.
The decision to ban TikTok was made when former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was in office. He was leading a coalition government with the support of NC. Currently, KP Sharma Oli is the Prime Minister leading an NC-UML coalition government.
Legal Challenge Pending
A case demanding the lifting of the ban on TikTok is pending in the Supreme Court. Fourteen cases were filed against the government’s decision to ban TikTok.
The Supreme Court has set a hearing date for the last week of September.
Earlier, a single bench of Justice Binod Sharma issued a show cause order to the government without issuing an interim order. The hearing has been postponed twice since then.
Regulatory Body’s Response
The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has been urging relevant parties to inform them if TikTok is still accessible.
However, the NTA seems unaware that ministers and parliamentarians are still using the platform. Arjun Ghimire, a director at NTA, said he was not aware of ministers and parliamentarians using TikTok. When asked how they could use TikTok despite the government ban, he said, “We will investigate this matter and consult with our technical team.”
