In Nepal, mass youth protests against social media blocking have escalated into riots that have left at least 19 people dead. Demonstrators have set fire to the parliament building and the residences of political leaders, and Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has resigned.
In Nepal, mass youth protests against social media blocking have escalated into riots that have left at least 19 people dead. Demonstrators have set fire to the parliament building and the residences of political leaders, and Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has resigned.
According to The Kathmandu Post, the government last week restricted access to 26 platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X. The decision was formally explained by the need to combat fake news and cybercrime, but citizens perceived it as an attack on freedom of speech. The streets of Kathmandu and other cities were filled with mostly young protesters, many of whom were in school uniforms.
The security forces used rubber bullets, tear gas and even live ammunition against them. According to local media, at least 19 people were killed and more than 300 were injured. Despite the harsh reaction of the security forces, the protesters broke into the government quarter and set fire to the parliament, after which the authorities declared a curfew, closed the airports and evacuated ministers by helicopters.
Amid the escalation, Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung announced the lifting of the ban on social media. However, the streets were not empty — protesters are demanding systemic reforms and accountability for the deaths of civilians. Prime Minister Oli announced his resignation, ending his fourth term in office.
This is not the first attempt by Nepali authorities to restrict the digital space. The government previously introduced a bill that would allow for imprisonment for publications «against the national interest.» International organizations, including Amnesty International and the UN, have warned that such initiatives pose a threat to freedom of expression. Now, it is Gen Z who have become the driving force behind the protests, proving that digital restrictions can escalate into a political crisis.
Earlier, dev.ua wrote about how the Nepalese authorities banned the Telegram messenger. Meanwhile, the media is writing about the preparation of Pavel Durov’s company to open an office in Russia. The tech entrepreneur himself denies this information.
