> be me, Nepali expat
> wake up Sept 4, apps gone: FB, IG, WhatsApp, YT, X, Reddit, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, Signal, Clubhouse, Rumble +14 more
Actual scoop:
- Supreme Court ordered social platforms to register locally by Aug 28 or face shutdown
- 26 platforms blacked out; only TikTok & Viber complied
Gov’t stance on VPNs:
- Official decree labels VPNs “unregistered tunnels” and “cyberthreats”
- State media warns: using VPN is unsafe, illegal, may lead to fines or arrest
Why it matters:
1. Freedom of speech wiped out for 30M Nepalis
2. Creators & small businesses lose income overnight
3. People forced to VPN risk legal trouble on top of surveillance