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Clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement result in casualties,prompting government response and raising concerns about freedom of expression.
Violent protests erupted in Nepal on Monday,resulting in at least one death and numerous injuries,as demonstrators clashed with police over a controversial social media bill. The unrest unfolded in the capital city of Kathmandu and several other regions across the country.
According to medical officials, many of the injured sustained critical wounds. “head and chest,” said Dr. Badri Risa. Families anxiously awaited news of their relatives, while long queues formed as people volunteered to donate blood.
Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli issued a statement announcing the formation of an investigating committee tasked with submitting a report within 15 days. He also pledged compensation for the families of those who lost their lives and free medical treatment for the wounded.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned during an emergency Cabinet meeting late Monday.
The violence coincided with the nepal government’s broader effort to regulate social media through a bill designed to ensure the platforms are “properly managed, responsible and accountable.” Critics have widely condemned the proposal as a tool for censorship and a means of punishing government opponents who voice dissent online.
The registration requirement applied to about two dozen social networks widely used in Nepal.
“properly managed, responsible and accountable.”
Neither Google,which owns YouTube,nor Meta,the parent company of Facebook,Instagram and WhatsApp,responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press. Elon Musk’s X platform did not respond either.
The video-sharing app TikTok, Viber and three other platforms have registered and operated without interruption.
The bill includes asking the companies to appoint a liaison office or a point of contact in the country. Rights groups have called it an attempt by the government to curb freedom of expression and basic rights.
nepal in 2023 banned TikTok for disrupting “social harmony, goodwill and diffusing indecent materials.” The ban was lifted last year after TikTok’s executives pledged to comply with local laws, including a ban of pornographic sites that was passed in 2018.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are governments regulating social media?
- Governments are regulating social media to address concerns about misinformation, hate speech, and the potential for social media to be used for harmful purposes.
- What are the different approaches to social media regulation?
- Approaches vary from content moderation policies and data privacy regulations to outright bans of certain platforms.
- What are the potential consequences of social media regulation?
- Potential consequences include restrictions on freedom of expression, censorship, and the stifling of online dissent.
