Human rights groups call on Nepal to lift Telegram ban

Nepal Unleashes a Telegram Ban Amid Online Crime Fears

What Prompted the Block?

• The Prime Minister’s Office ordered internet providers to cut Telegram after the app’s surge in fraud, money‑laundering alerts, and cyber‑crime concerns.
• Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, confirmed the directive today.

Human Rights Groups React Loudly

• Taranath Dahal, Freedom Forum, called the move a “serious human rights violation” and a “discriminatory decision.”
• The statement also warned that the ban could “enable the government to shut down any platform without transparency.”
• More than two dozen organisations, led by the international coalition #KeepItOn, demanded an “immediate” reversal.

Impact on Everyday Communicators

The sudden, unlawful disruption has severely impacted journalists, human rights defenders, students, small businesses, and others who depend on the platform for essential day‑to‑day communication.

Telegram: A Brief Backdrop

Launched in 2013, the cloud‑based messaging app is celebrated for its privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels. With an estimated billion users worldwide, it faces restrictions in some countries.

Pavel Durov, the Founder

Russian‑born and chief executive, Pavel Durov was briefly detained in France last year and is under interrogation again this week regarding the platform’s alleged complicity in criminal activity.