At Least 13 Dead as Youth Protest Nepal's Social Media Ban
Youth-led protests in Kathmandu over Nepal’s social media ban turned deadly, leaving at least 13 dead and dozens injured as clashes erupted with security forces.
At least 13 people have died and dozens more were injured in Kathmandu after youth-led demonstrations against Nepal’s social media ban escalated into violent clashes with security forces.
Thousands of protesters, primarily from Generation Z, gathered near the parliament building to oppose the government’s decision to block platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube. They say they rely on these sites for news, entertainment and business.
“Enough is enough,” read one placard, as demonstrators decried what they called the government’s authoritarian approach and corruption.
After some protesters breached a restricted area, police used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, according to officials. Kathmandu declared a curfew around the parliament to contain the unrest.
The ban, imposed for non-compliance with a registration deadline set by the ministry of communication and information technology, affects 26 platforms. Users have resorted to VPNs to bypass the restrictions, while two services have since complied and been reactivated.
The government insists it is not banning social media outright but enforcing Nepalese law to combat fake news, hate speech and online fraud.
Youth anger over online restrictions in Nepal highlights the tension between digital freedom and government control.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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