Nepal’s Gen Z Uprising: From Social Media Protest to Political Upheaval
What began as a Gen Z–led online campaign criticizing the extravagant lifestyles of so-called “Nepo Kids” has quickly escalated into Nepal’s deadliest social unrest in decades, toppling the government and shaking the foundations of the state.
After two nights of turmoil, an uneasy calm has returned to the streets. Tens of thousands of protesters had flooded cities, torching parliament and the Supreme Court, and clashing violently with security forces. According to the Ministry of Health, at least 72 people lost their lives and more than 1,000 have been injured.
On September 8, thousands of students and young people gathered at Maitighar Mandala in central Kathmandu for a peaceful gathering against the corruption and social media ban. The demonstration escalated as protesters moved toward parliament and faced police resistance. Security forces responded with live ammunition, water cannons, and tear gas, leaving 19 people dead in a single day.
By September 9, protests had spread to all major cities. Demonstrators set fire to public buildings, including the Supreme Court, parliament, Administrative headquarter of the government (Singha Durbar), political party offices, and businesses, defying curfews imposed to restore order. Amid the turmoil, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned, saying his decision was intended to “pave the way forward.” On September 12, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed interim prime minister, tasked with leading the country through this crisis and organizing national elections within six months.
During this period, we observed a significant increase in misinformation, disinformation, doxing, and content inciting violence across social media platforms. This underscores the urgent need to strengthen digital literacy, uphold digital rights and digital safety, and ensure full accountability of online platforms in line with established governance principles.
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Social Media Platforms Informally Reopened in Nepal
Following the Gen Z demonstrations on 8 September 2025, then government informally instructed service providers to reopen social media platforms. Officials directed providers, including Nepal Telecom, Ncell, and other ISPs, to “quietly” restore access. Social media is already open on Nepal Telecom’s network and is gradually being restored on other providers. Although no formal notice has been issued, most platforms are accessible across networks, with only a few exceptions. Telecom, Internet, and Data Infrastructure Hit Hard in Nepal Protests
The September 9 protests led to widespread vandalism of telecom and internet infrastructure, with data centers and offices of major companies targeted. Nepal Telecom and Ncell appealed to the public not to attack telecom facilities, warning that damage could disrupt essential services nationwide. Both companies urged protection of assets that serve as shared public property. Ncell’s head office was set on fire.
Private ISPs also faced severe setbacks. Vianet’s primary data center at Central Business Park was damaged by fire, causing major internet outages, though services were gradually restored through backups. CG Net reported similar disruptions after its Satungal data center was burned, citing infrastructure damage and staff shortages in managing traffic. Protesters also set fire to the Kantipur Media Group building, disrupting The Kathmandu Post’s servers. The paper shifted to social media for updates.
Government institutions were also not spared. Offices including the Prime Minister’s Office, ministries, courts, and municipalities suffered damage, with important datasets destroyed. However, the Integrated Data Management Center (IDMC) confirmed that core government data remains safe, thanks to backups in Singha Durbar and Hetauda. Some priority services have already resumed. Despite massive destruction, officials reassured that disaster recovery systems have protected critical government data, offering hope for continuity amid the turmoil.
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Misinformation: Nepal’s Silent Crisis Amid Unrest
Misinformation thrives on fear, and propaganda feeds on chaos. In Nepal’s fragile times, staying alert, verifying facts, and protecting truth has never been more important.
In the wake of the Gen Z movement, Nepal faced destruction, political uncertainty, and constitutional challenges. Yet, beyond the visible violence, another crisis emerged— the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation. Inflated death tolls, conspiracy theories, and distorted accounts flooded social media, blurring the line between truth and fiction. The absence of timely, transparent communication from government bodies and media outlets only fueled confusion, distrust, and unrest.
The Nepali Army has appealed to the public not to fall for misleading content. Its Directorate of Public Relations and Information reminded that official updates are regularly shared through press releases and verified channels, and accurate information can be accessed through battalion headquarters or the Directorate itself.
In fragile political moments, misinformation can be as dangerous as violence. Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) calls on all stakeholders- government agencies, media, civil society, and citizens, to uphold their responsibility in safeguarding information integrity. Authorities must provide clear updates, media must commit to fact-based reporting, and citizens need stronger media literacy to resist manipulation. Protecting truth is a shared responsibility. Misinformation may thrive in uncertainty, but collective commitment to transparency and accountability can safeguard democracy, ensure social stability and gain public trust.
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Digital Rights Organizations on Gen Z protest Aftermath
International digital rights organization Access Now condemned the Nepali government’s violent crackdown and called for an independent investigation, accountability for victims, and a re-examination of blanket bans. Future regulations must respect human rights, be proportionate, and subject to judicial oversight. Nepal must uphold democracy, freedom of expression, and access to information while avoiding authoritarian measures.
Similarly, Digital Accountability Collectives South Asia (DACSA) c ondemned the violence and called on the Government of Nepal to ensure transparency, restore public trust, and refrain from further measures that restrict freedom of expression and access to information. They also urged technology platforms to engage meaningfully with civil society and local communities in Nepal to safeguard user rights during moments of crisis. DACSA is a regional coalition formed by Digitally Right (Bangladesh), Digital Rights Foundation (Pakistan), Digital Rights Nepal (Nepal) and Hashtag Generation (Sri Lanka), united by a shared commitment to digital equity, platform accountability, and human rights.
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Digital Rights Weekly is a week-based update on Digital Rights and ICT issues, that happened throughout the week, compiled and analyzed from the digital rights perspective by Digital Rights Nepal (DRN). DRN is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to the protection and promotion of digital rights, including the right to online freedom of expression and association, online privacy, access to information, and related issues such as internet governance, cyber laws/policies, and cyber securities in Nepal.
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| This publication has been produced with financial support from Norway. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Digital Rights Nepal and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway. |
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