Nepal Lifts Social Media Ban After 19 Killed in Protests

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22 hrs ago

Above: Protesters clash with police outside the Parliament in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Sept. 8, 2025. Image copyright: Sanjit Pariyar/NurPhoto/Getty Images

story last updated 8 hrs ago

The Spin

Government-critical narrative

Nepal's government bears full moral and legal responsibility for the lives of these young people being extinguished in the pursuit of demanding transparency and digital freedom. By banning social media to silence anti-corruption voices and then deploying lethal force against peaceful protesters, the government has blood on its hands. It must probe and prosecute all responsible officials.

Amnesty International India Today

Pro-government narrative

In the interest of public welfare, the government's decision to ban social media was a necessary step to ensure foreign tech companies complied with local law. The government's actions, supported by a Supreme Court order, were a justified response to platforms that failed to register, address misinformation and operate within the country's legal framework.

NDTV Hindustan Times