Prachanda Questions Financial Manipulation Behind TikTok Ban Lift

Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, former Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN Maoist Center, has expressed suspicion that financial manipulation may have influenced the recent decision to lift the ban on TikTok. The ban, initially imposed by Dahal’s government, was lifted by the KP Sharma Oli-led administration after nine months of closure.

The Dahal-led government had banned TikTok on October 24, 2023, citing non-compliance with three key criteria. The ban was part of a broader effort to address concerns related to content regulation, legal and policy compliance, and social responsibility. The government had issued specific conditions that TikTok needed to meet, which included adherence to Nepali laws, enhancement of local content moderation, and contributions to digital literacy and social responsibility initiatives.

Conditions Imposed by the Dahal Government

The conditions set by Dahal’s government included:

1. Legal and Policy Compliance: TikTok was required to operate within the framework of Nepal’s existing laws, including communication, social media, and tax regulations. The company needed to be listed with relevant agencies and coordinate with prescribed bodies to address complaints related to social media.
2. Content Regulation and Management: TikTok was mandated to employ Nepali-speaking staff for content moderation and management. The company was expected to establish a direct reporting system to Nepal’s designated bodies to oversee compliance with laws on sensitive content, including child abuse, trafficking, and other prohibited materials.
3. Investment and Social Responsibility: TikTok was required to support digital education initiatives, such as digitized curriculums and ICT lab upgrades in public schools. The company was also expected to contribute to public awareness campaigns on safe internet use and support tourism and other sectors to aid Nepal’s economic and social development.

Oli Government’s Conditions and Lifting of the Ban

On Thursday, the Oli-led government announced the lifting of the TikTok ban. In response, Dahal’s secretariat questioned whether TikTok had met the conditions originally set by the Dahal administration or if there had been financial manipulation involved in the decision to lift the ban. The secretariat stated, “The government has removed the TikTok ban. When we were in the government, we made various conditions after intensive discussions with TikTok representatives. Did TikTok accept those conditions or is there financial manipulation behind it? This issue will become clear with the passage of time.”

The Oli-led government imposed four new conditions upon TikTok:

1. Promotion of Tourism: TikTok is expected to support Nepal’s tourism sector through its platform.
2. Digital Security Literacy: The company must contribute to increasing digital security awareness among Nepali citizens.
3. Public Education Enhancement: TikTok is required to assist in improving the quality of public education and increasing literacy rates in Nepal.
4. Sensitivity in Language: The company must adopt sensitive language practices on its platform to align with Nepal’s social and cultural norms.

The Oli government has warned that failure to comply with these conditions within three months could result in the reinstatement of the ban. The new administration’s focus on promoting tourism and enhancing digital literacy reflects its broader goals of supporting Nepal’s socio-economic development.