Kathmandu, 26 April: From April to December of last year (a span of 9 months), TikTok removed 3.31 million videos from Nepal. Acknowledging that these videos violated community guidelines or were deemed socially inappropriate, TikTok took them down within that period.
In the third quarter of 2024 (July, August, and September), 975,677 videos were removed from Nepal, and in the fourth quarter (October, November, and December), 1,476,862 videos were taken down, as stated in the company’s “Community Guidelines Enforcement Report.” Prior to this, from November 2023 (Kartik 2080) to August 2024 (Bhadra 2081), TikTok had been banned in Nepal. Even during the period of the ban, numerous videos were removed from the platform. Specifically, in the quarter before the ban was lifted (April, June, and July of 2024), 678,545 videos were removed.
A representative from TikTok, overseeing South Asian affairs, claimed that the platform aims to provide a safe and respectful digital environment for users in Nepal. In a response via email to Kantipur, the representative stated, “After the ban was lifted in Nepal, the company has been adopting a transparent process while regularly collaborating with the government and regulatory bodies. With the expectation that TikTok will be a safe and trustworthy platform in Nepal, we have been working regularly with government agencies and stakeholders.” The representative also mentioned active cooperation with Nepalese government officials on key issues such as content moderation, online safety, data protection, and creating a positive user experience.
When the government lifted the ban on the Chinese social media app TikTok in Bhadra 2081, it laid out various conditions. These included the requirement for TikTok to be officially registered in Nepal, collaborate on internet security, digital literacy, tourism promotion, and improving educational quality in institutions across the country, and particularly, to make content filtering and moderation effective.
Digital rights activists expressed concerns that directing platforms to carry out content moderation by identifying sources in the Nepali language and other national languages might lead to the suppression of legitimate expression. They feared that instructing social media platforms to make content filtering and moderation more effective through software could lead to pre-censorship, and such attempts would be unconstitutional in their opinion.
In response to the question about what kind of requests TikTok receives from the Nepalese government regarding content removal, TikTok stated that it takes government requests seriously and reviews each piece of content based on its “Community Guidelines,” “Terms of Service,” and local legal standards.
The representative from TikTok stated, “Even if content does not violate our Community Guidelines, if it is considered illegal under local laws, we may restrict such content within Nepal.” They further explained, “If the government sends a request for content removal but the content is not illegal under the law and does not violate our guidelines, we will not remove such content.”
Although TikTok is a global platform, its representatives claim that it operates in compliance with local laws and standards, collaborating only with local stakeholders. They mentioned that TikTok continues to prioritize transparency and dialogue in all of its markets, including Nepal, as part of its efforts to become a trusted partner. The company has also been undertaking various initiatives to guarantee a safe and respectful digital space for its 1 billion users worldwide.
After being registered in Nepal, TikTok has been assisting the government with research, content moderation, tourism promotion, and more, as stated by the Ministry of Communications’ spokesperson, Gajendra Kumar Thakur. “TikTok has facilitated the process of removing content as soon as the government requests it. The company is reviewing videos by having representatives in Nepal,” Thakur said. “Around 6% of the content has been removed at the government’s request, while the rest has been proactively removed by TikTok.”
The TikTok representative stated that the platform’s Community Guidelines clearly outline what can and cannot be shared. These guidelines are applied equally to all users and content. To maintain a safe platform, TikTok has deployed advanced moderation technology and thousands of Trust and Safety professionals. “As TikTok’s user base grows in Nepal, we feel an increasing responsibility,” they said. “For this reason, we are appointing local experts, with cultural context and regional awareness, as Trust and Safety representatives specifically for Nepal.”
TikTok’s Community Guidelines
Social media companies create documents such as “Community Guidelines” and “Terms of Service” to outline the standards users must follow when using their platforms. TikTok’s Community Guidelines prohibit promoting illegal activities like drug use, weapons, and human trafficking. Content that could influence electoral outcomes is also banned. Posts supporting murder, suicide, terrorism, or violent acts are not allowed.
It also prohibits sexually explicit or obscene content, child exploitation, hate speech, and the spread of false information. TikTok’s Terms of Service set legal eligibility (age limit) for using the platform, user responsibilities, intellectual property rights, and the company’s rights and limitations. Users must take responsibility for all content posted from their accounts, must not use others’ content without permission, and agree to give TikTok the right to use the posted content. If users violate the company’s rules, TikTok may suspend accounts or remove content.
Reprinted from Kantipur
