+25 votes
in General Factchecking by Journeyman (3.1k points)
A Cabinet meeting on Monday took the decision to ban the social media app.
by Novice (740 points)
This is a true statement. Acorreding to CNN on November 14, 2023, “Considering how TikTok is disrupting our social harmony, and the impact it’s having on our family and social structures, the cabinet has decided to ban TikTok for the moment,” Rekha Sharma, Nepal’s minister of communication and information technology, told a press conference on Monday."
by Novice (920 points)
+1
After further research, I have found that this claim is true. Nepal did decide to ban TikTok. According to CNN, Minister Rekha Sharma of Nepal, states the cabinet's ultimate justification for banning the app was due to “‘how TikTok is disrupting our social harmony, and the impact it’s having on our family and social structures.’” The New York Times reported that the cabinet found TikTok to spread ‘toxic content’ filled with religious hate and violence. For instance, the “virtual attacks on TikTok between Hindus, Muslims, and some Indigenous communities over the slaughter of cows, which are seen as sacred among a large number of Hindus.” For these reasons, the cabinet had decided to ban the app altogether.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/world/asia/tiktok-nepal-ban.html
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/14/tech/nepal-tiktok-ban-hnk-intl/index.html
by Apprentice (1.3k points)
In the first comment, I believe certain information is missing. I think you cited an important quote regarding the topic. But you don't provide a link to the source for people to actually check your work. I think it would be important to mention the reasons why Nepal is banning TikTok. Specifically, in the article below, it points out that the Nepal government believes the app must open an office first. "He said that to make social media platforms accountable, the government has asked the companies to register and open a liaison office in Nepal, pay taxes and abide by the country's laws and regulations." Speaking about comments made from Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud. I think it would be important to mention this.

-https://www.npr.org/2023/11/14/1212838525/nepals-government-bans-tiktok-saying-it-disrupts-social-harmony
by Newbie (280 points)
According to CNN, this is a true statement. CNN, a reliable source reported that Nepal has banned the app TikTok for disrupting social harmony. The article contains quotes about the banning of the app by Nepal’s minister of communication and information technology. The article continues to go more in-depth about the use of TikTok in other countries and the restrictions placed in the US. Overall, this statement seems to be true.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/14/tech/nepal-tiktok-ban-hnk-intl/index.html#:~:text=Nepal%20has%20decided%20to%20ban,Asian%20nation%2C%20government%20officials%20say.

23 Answers

+1 vote
by Novice (630 points)

This is true. The first U.S. newspaper that reported on this topic appears to be AP News, which reported that “the announcement was made following a Cabinet meeting. Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud said the app would be banned immediately.” I noticed there was nothing linked in any of the US coverage (the New York Times, CNN, The Hill, etc) that provided an original source of this news, so I tried to track down a recording or transcript of the press conference or the Cabinet meeting where this was announced and decided. I was unable to find it. I’m not sure about Nepal’s laws related to the sharing of government meetings or decisions, so this may be par for the course in Nepal. The next best thing I could find was an announcement on the country’s state-run news source, Nepal Television. The translated page states “After the Cabinet meeting held on Monday decided to shut down Tiktok in Nepal, the authority has written to internet service providers to shut down Tiktok.”  This further supports the U.S. reported news that Nepal had banned the video-sharing app. 

I did find it interesting that I could not track down any official correspondence, like a letter on government letterhead or correspondence related to this ban. I found unsubstantiated correspondence from TikTok raising concerns about the ban in Nepal but saw nothing in writing or any recordings from the government.

True
+1 vote
by Novice (920 points)
After further research, I have found that this claim is true. Nepal did decide to ban TikTok. According to CNN, Minister Rekha Sharma of Nepal, states the cabinet's ultimate justification for banning the app was due to “‘how TikTok is disrupting our social harmony, and the impact it’s having on our family and social structures.’” The New York Times reported that the cabinet found TikTok to spread ‘toxic content’ filled with religious hate and violence. For instance, the “virtual attacks on TikTok between Hindus, Muslims, and some Indigenous communities over the slaughter of cows, which are seen as sacred among a large number of Hindus.” For these reasons, the cabinet had decided to ban the app altogether.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/world/asia/tiktok-nepal-ban.html

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/14/tech/nepal-tiktok-ban-hnk-intl/index.html
+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.1k points)

This statement is true. For one, it comes from the Kathmandu Post, which is considered one of the major newspaper outlets in Nepal. Other sources have reported on the ban, as well. The New York Times reported that the app was banned for multiple reasons, the main one being the hate content prevalent on the app, specifically content of slaughtering cows. CNN included a quote from Nepal's foreign minister, "The government has decided to ban TikTok as it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform that was disrupting social harmony, goodwill and flow of indecent materials."

+1 vote
by Novice (900 points)
This statement is true according to the 2 websites I went too (NPR and USA Today). Their government claims that it has a negative effect on society and family life at home. Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud said they would take actions immediately to remove it from their society. They are trying to hold social media platforms more accountable to how they effect people. Both the sites I used to fact check this are well know sites and I do believe them to be accurate.

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/14/1212838525/nepals-government-bans-tiktok-saying-it-disrupts-social-harmony

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/11/15/tiktok-banned-in-nepal/71595893007/
True
+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.1k points)

When looking further into whether or not Nepal banned TikTok I was able to find out that this claim is in fact true. According to news platforms such as NPR, The New York Times and Reuters it is evident that Nepal's government had implemented the ban in early November. According to NPR, Nepal's government banned the use of TikTok because "it was disrupting social harmony in the country" (NPR). The Foreign Minister of Nepal was quoted saying, "The government has decided to ban TikTok as it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform that was disrupting social harmony, goodwill and flow of indecent materials" (NPR). 

It has also been noted that the people living within Nepal are not too happy with the ban. According to the New York Times, "Taranath Dahal, the founder of Freedom Forum, which advocates free speech in Nepal, said the government’s process for banning the platform lacked transparency and raised concerns that the country “is also heading toward building a controlled society.” (The New York Times). The ban has also affected others who make an income using TikTok. According to Reuters, Nepali influencer Manjita Manandhar was expressed as "caught off guard" by the ban. "I was shocked as the decision came suddenly," said Manandhar, who earns about $1,500 a month by making content for restaurants, hotels and brands, and posting them on the app" (Reuters). Through this we can see that the ban not only has an effect on normal citizens but it also has lasting effects on people who have built a brand off of a platform like TikTok. 

Overall, we can see that this information is true because it uses legitimate sources such as the New York Times, NPR, and Reuters to help tell the story behind the ban. The sources also use first hand quotes from people that either made the decision or who were affected by the decision. Using this consistent first hand experience within the reporting of all of the news platforms helped improve the validity of the claim.

Sources: 
True
+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.1k points)

When looking further into whether or not Nepal banned TikTok I was able to find out that this claim is in fact true. According to news platforms such as NPR, The New York Times and Reuters it is evident that Nepal's government had implemented the ban in early November. According to NPR, Nepal's government banned the use of TikTok because "it was disrupting social harmony in the country" (NPR). The Foreign Minister of Nepal was quoted saying, "The government has decided to ban TikTok as it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform that was disrupting social harmony, goodwill and flow of indecent materials" (NPR). 

It has also been noted that the people living within Nepal are not too happy with the ban. According to the New York Times, "Taranath Dahal, the founder of Freedom Forum, which advocates free speech in Nepal, said the government’s process for banning the platform lacked transparency and raised concerns that the country “is also heading toward building a controlled society.” (The New York Times). The ban has also affected others who make an income using TikTok. According to Reuters, Nepali influencer Manjita Manandhar was expressed as "caught off guard" by the ban. "I was shocked as the decision came suddenly," said Manandhar, who earns about $1,500 a month by making content for restaurants, hotels and brands, and posting them on the app" (Reuters). Through this we can see that the ban not only has an effect on normal citizens but it also has lasting effects on people who have built a brand off of a platform like TikTok. 

Overall, we can see that this information is true because it uses legitimate sources such as the New York Times, NPR, and Reuters to help tell the story behind the ban. The sources also use first hand quotes from people that either made the decision or who were affected by the decision. Using this consistent first hand experience within the reporting of all of the news platforms helped improve the validity of the claim.

True
by Genius (41.9k points)
Your thorough fact-check is impressive. However, don't forget to add hyperlinks to your sources going forward. Thanks!
+1 vote
by Novice (750 points)
by Genius (41.9k points)
Strong fact-checks include an introduction on the claim, some background info or context if necessary and then information, data, quotes, etc. to prove the claim false, true, etc. Also, don't forget to mention the source explicitly.  "According to USA Today, the claim that TikTok is banned in Nepal is true. USA Today reported that XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX."
+1 vote
by Novice (530 points)
According to multiple news platforms, this claim that Nepal has banned TikTok is true. Many sites such as NPR, CNN, and USA Today state the same exact information and quote the foreign minister saying that it is "necessary to regulate the use of social media platforms" and that it "disrupts social harmony." They state that it is unclear what triggered the ban of TikTok but they also noted that the country has banned pornography sites since 2018 as well.

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/14/1212838525/nepals-government-bans-tiktok-saying-it-disrupts-social-harmony

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/14/tech/nepal-tiktok-ban-hnk-intl/index.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/11/15/tiktok-banned-in-nepal/71595893007/
True
+1 vote
by Novice (980 points)

From the information I found, this statement is true. based on an interview with the prime minister of foreign affairs in Nepal, Narayan Prakash Saud, "The government has decided to ban TikTok as it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform that was disrupting social harmony, goodwill and flow of indecent materials." This is credible as NPR, CNN, and other reliable news sources have cited this same quote and other information. Also, the main website this claim is coming from is an English-based newspaper in Nepal where the news is actually about.

Nepal decides to ban TikTok (kathmandupost.com)

Nepal bans TikTok, saying it disrupts social harmony (nbcnews.com)

Nepal bans TikTok and says it disrupts social harmony : NPR

True
+1 vote
by Novice (620 points)

This claim is true. According to NPR, the app was decided to be banned immediately following a cabinet meeting. According to Reuters, there have been upwards of 1600 TikTok-related cybercrime cases. Nepal claims that "social harmony and goodwill were being disturbed by "misuse" of the popular video app," and decided to take action against its use. Many other countries have banned the app for similar issues, fearing that the app may compromise security and safety. Nepal officially banned the app on November 13th. 

https://www.reuters.com/technology/nepal-govt-decides-ban-chinas-tiktok-ani-2023-11-13/

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/14/1212838525/nepals-government-bans-tiktok-saying-it-disrupts-social-harmony#:~:text=KATHMANDU%2C%20Nepal%20%E2%80%94%20Nepal's%20government%20decided,app%20would%20be%20banned%20immediately.  

True

Community Rules


Be respectful.

There is bound to be disagreement on a site about misinformation. Assume best intentions on everyone's part.

If you are new to factchecking, take some time to learn about it. "How to Factcheck" has some resources for getting started. Even if you disagree with these materials, they'll help you understand the language of this community better.

News Detective is for uncovering misinformation and rumors. This is not a general interest question-answer site for things someone could Google.

Posting

The title is the "main claim" that you're trying to factcheck.

Example:
Factcheck This: Birds don't exist

If possible, LINK TO to the place you saw the claim.

Answering

LINK TO YOUR EVIDENCE or otherwise explain the source ("I called this person, I found it in this book, etc.")

But don't just drop a link. Give an explanation, copy and paste the relevant information, etc.

News Detective is not responsible for anything anyone posts on the platform.
...