Nepal govt bans TikTok, regulates other social media.-Indian Express
- Nepal government has banned social media platform TikTok with immediate effect.
- It has decided to regulate other platforms to prevent their misuse.
What is the issue ?
- TikTok is the most popular social media platform in Nepal.
- In a follow up action, The Government of Nepal singled out TikTok imposing a total ban on it.
- The Government alleged that TikTok was being used to defame political leaders both in ruling and opposition sides
- Most users were using fake identities for the purpose.
Regulations of the Nepal Government over Social Media Platforms
- The Nepal Government has issued a declaration regarding the regulation of all social media platforms.
- The government has granted three months time to all social media platforms to set up Nepal offices to address grievances.
- The government directives for social media users prohibited use of fake identities.
- It has also warned the platforms of engaging in defamatory activities.
- The platforms were also asked to reveal the real identity of the user
- They have been ordered to cooperate in investigations.
Recent Developments in the Social Media Regulations of India
- Recently an amendment was introduced to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 in India.
- The amendment was introduced to replace the previous guidelines.
- The amendment sought to regulate intermediaries and digital news media.
- The media platforms are mandated to provide technological solutions to identify the first originator of any information risking privacy.
- The amendments introduced in April 2023 give the government power
- To decide for itself what information is bogus
- To exercise wide-ranging powers of censorship
- To compelling intermediaries to take down posts deemed fake or false.
Prelims Takeaway
- Social Media Platforms
- Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021