The government has banned the Telegram App. The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) issued a directive to all telecom and internet service providers to immediately restrict access to Telegram on July 18.
The National Coordination Committee for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities under the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers issued a notice on July 17 directing Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to ban the social messaging application. The committee cited the application’s increasing use in online fraud, money laundering, and other serious cybercrimes as primary reasons for the ban.
Telegram is a messaging App featuring like large group chats and broadcast channels.
According to media reports, Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police also raised concern that regulation of the application was challenging and the application continued to be a platform for the criminal activities for instance fake job offers, illegal drug trade, fraudulent money transfers, etc.
Earlier, a video messaging application TikTok was also banned in Nepal in November 2023 and later resumed nine months on August 2024; when the application’s company agreed with the government’s conditions to follow necessary regulatory provisions.
Talking to Freedom Forum, Ministry Spokesperson Gajendra Thakur also confirmed the App ban.
Freedom Forum’s Executive Chief, Taranath Dahal, stated, "Primary responsibility for the crimes committed through the application lies with the involved criminal group or individuals rather than the platform itself. Although, the platform also has some responsibility to monitor and mitigate its misuse, banning access is not a permanent solution. If the platform has been misused, it needs developing a strong regulatory measure to address such criminal activities, thereby not risking users’ rights to digital platforms."
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