DIGITAL DICTATORSHIP BACKFIRES: Nepal’s social media censorship ignites mass protests that leave 19 dead
By isabelle // 2025-09-09
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  • Government social media ban in Nepal triggered deadly protests, with 19 killed and more than 100 injured.
  • Citizens defied censorship, using VPNs and street demonstrations to expose corruption and demand accountability.
  • Authorities reversed the blackout after widespread violence but maintained a curfew amid ongoing unrest.
  • Youth-led movement expanded from free speech demands to a broader rebellion against systemic corruption.
  • Nepal’s crackdown serves as a global warning against digital authoritarianism and the dangers of silencing dissent.
When a government silences its people, the people scream louder. And that’s exactly what happened in Nepal this week after authorities blocked nearly every major social media platform — Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, X, and more — in a heavy-handed attempt to enforce new registration rules. The move didn’t just backfire; it ignited a firestorm. By Monday, 19 protesters were dead, more than 100 were injured, and the streets of Kathmandu were filled with tear gas, rubber bullets, and the unrelenting chants of a generation refusing to be silenced. The government claimed the blackout was about combating fake news and enforcing a Supreme Court order. But Nepalis saw it for what it was: a desperate bid to stifle dissent in a country drowning in corruption. The ban lasted less than a week before officials, facing mass unrest, reversed course. Yet the damage was done. The protests didn’t stop. The anger didn’t fade. And now, an indefinite curfew has turned Kathmandu into a pressure cooker of defiance.

A ban that broke the camel’s back

Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology gave tech giants just seven days to register under a new directive requiring local representatives, content monitoring, and compliance with government demands. When companies like Meta, Google, and X failed to meet the deadline, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority pulled the plug. Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung insisted the government had been patient. “We gave them enough time to register and repeatedly requested them to comply with our request, but they ignored [this], and we had to shut their operations in Nepal,” he told AFP. Yet the timing was suspicious. The ban came as a viral “nepo kid” campaign exposed the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children amid rampant corruption allegations. For a generation already fed up with broken promises, the blackout was the final straw. Protesters, largely Gen Z, flooded the streets. “Rather than [the] social media ban, I think everyone's focus is on corruption,” Sabana Budathoki told the BBC. “We want our country back. We came to stop corruption.” Their slogans were blunt: “Stop the ban on social media. Stop corruption, not social media.” “Punish the murderers in government. Stop killing children.”

Violence erupts, government backtracks

By Monday, the protests had turned deadly. Tens of thousands surrounded Parliament in Kathmandu, clashing with police who responded with tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition. Nineteen people were killed, with many shot in the head or chest, according to Dr. Badri Risa at the National Trauma Center. More than 100 more were injured. The brutality shocked the nation. Videos circulated of protesters setting fire to the homes of top politicians, including former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and President Ram Chandra Poudel. A private school owned by Foreign Minister Arzu Deuba Rana, Deuba’s wife, was also torched. The message was clear: the people were no longer just demanding free speech; they were demanding accountability. Facing a full-blown crisis, the government lifted the ban late Monday. “We have withdrawn the shutdown of the social media. They are working now,” Gurung admitted to Reuters. But the concessions came too late. The curfew remained. The protests persisted. And Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, already deeply unpopular, found himself fighting for political survival.

A generation’s rebellion against corruption

What started as a protest against censorship quickly morphed into a broader uprising against Nepal’s entrenched political corruption. The country’s youth, facing bleak economic prospects and a government they see as hopelessly corrupt, have had enough. “Our demand and desire is for peace and end to corruption so that people can actually work and live back in the country,” said Bishnu Thapa Chetri, a student protester. Another demonstrator, Durganah Dahal, was even more direct: “They killed so many youths yesterday who had so much to look forward to… We protest until this government is finished.” The government’s response? Blame “vested interest groups” and promise investigations. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned amid the backlash, and Oli vowed compensation for victims’ families. But for a generation that has watched their leaders enrich themselves while the country crumbles, empty promises won’t cut it.

A warning for digital authoritarianism

Nepal’s social media crackdown isn’t just a local issue. It’s a cautionary tale. Governments worldwide are pushing for greater control over online speech, often under the guise of fighting misinformation. But as Nepal proves, such moves don’t eliminate fake news; they eliminate accountability. The ban failed spectacularly because the truth couldn’t be contained. When traditional media was silenced, citizens turned to VPNs—Proton VPN reported a 500% to 6,000% surge in Nepal sign-ups in just three days. The government’s attempt to control the narrative only fueled the fire. For now, social media is back online, but the curfew remains. The protests continue. And Nepal’s youth, armed with nothing but their phones and their fury, have made one thing clear: They won’t be silenced. Sources for this article include: RT.com APNews.com BBC.co.uk Reuters.com
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