27 organisations oppose Telegram ban in Nepal, call it harmful to freedom and digital economy

A group of 27 civil society organisations in Nepal has strongly objected to the government’s recent ban on the messaging app Telegram. These groups advocate for digital rights and freedom of expression, and say that the ban could negatively impact Nepal’s growing digital economy, small businesses, and access to information.

The organisations—including Digital Rights Nepal, Yuwalaya, Freedom Forum, Dignity Initiative, Media Action Nepal, Voices of Women Media, Amnesty International Nepal, and others—have issued a joint statement condemning the decision as undemocratic and lacking transparency.

According to them, the ban goes against the fundamental rights of citizens, especially the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Nepal’s Constitution (Articles 17 and 19). They believe such one-sided decisions without proper public consultation or evidence hurt trust in democratic processes.

Why was Telegram banned?

On Shrawan 2 (July 17), the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to block access to the Telegram app. The stated reason was to prevent online fraud and money laundering. But many users continue to access Telegram using VPNs and proxy services like Cloudflare Warp.

However, rights organisations argue that the government made the decision without conducting proper research. They say many people—including students, small business owners, and gender minorities—use Telegram as a reliable and accessible tool for communication, learning, and connecting with customers.

Experts warn of deeper consequences

Monika Niroula, Executive Director of the organisation Body & Data, which works on digital rights and gender justice, said the ban sets a dangerous precedent. “Without studying who uses Telegram and for what purpose, the government imposed a ban. That’s a one-sided move,” she said. “Some students access study materials through Telegram, entrepreneurs use it to reach customers, and it’s also a safe space for gender minorities.”

Yuwalaya’s Executive Director Sanjiv Adhikari also spoke against the ban, saying that the government should regulate, not block, platforms. “If banning is the solution, then many other apps with misuse would need to be banned too. But that’s not realistic,” he said. “These platforms are tools for startups and youth to grow. If the government blocks them, it directly affects innovation and communication.”

No legal base for a full ban, say critics

The organisations argue that banning Telegram without a clear legal basis violates democratic principles and the rule of law. They point to a previous Supreme Court ruling during the TikTok ban in 2080, where the court ordered the government to create proper laws to regulate social media—not just ban them.

In line with that order, a Social Media Regulation Bill is currently under discussion in the National Assembly. Until such a law is passed, experts say banning apps like Telegram is not legally justified.

Three-point appeal to the government

In their joint statement, the 27 organisations have made three key recommendations:

1. Immediately lift the Telegram ban.
2. Regulate digital platforms through constitutional and international standards.
3. Start a transparent and inclusive dialogue on digital rights and governance.

“Controlling digital crimes is definitely a challenge,” said Niroula, “but banning platforms is not the answer. The focus should be on creating a safe digital space and improving digital literacy across Nepal.”