Nepal sees 8,000% spike in VPN use after censorship protests

Protests erupted in Nepal on Monday after a controversial social media ban blocked people in the country from accessing most forms of social media. The youth-led "Gen Z" protests over the social media ban and government corruption triggered a violent reaction, and the BBC reported that 19 protesters have been killed. The New York Times also cited local media reports that said 400 people have been injured in the ongoing protests.

Amid the protests, a popular VPN provider reported an 8,000 percent spike in signups, ostensibly so Nepali users could get back online and use social media. 

The trouble began when Nepal passed a ban that removed access to 26 social media platforms, including legacy platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit, along with newer platforms like Threads, Discord, and Mastodon. Authorities in Nepal told the New York Times these platforms have not registered with the Nepali government. 

TikTok was able to circumvent the ban by registering back in 2024, and Telegram is reportedly in the process of registering right now. In addition to official registration, each social media company has to have a local point of contact to help battle misinformation and abuse. Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology posted a notice that companies can get off the ban list by registering. 

While the ban has been enacted in full, many people are angry because the bill hasn’t passed the country’s parliament, sparking charges of government censorship. The social media ban reportedly caused lingering anger over government corruption and economic inequality to boil over, leading to the explosive Gen Z protests that occurred Monday, as the Times reported. Meanwhile, many Nepali people are finding other ways to get online.

As the ban went into effect on Sept. 4, Proton VPN recorded an 8,000 percent increase in new users for its VPN services, which can be used to circumvent georestrictions on specific websites or apps. Proton VPN posted a graph showing new users in Nepal joining en masse starting on Sept. 3, with the numbers skyrocketing after Sept. 4 when the ban went into full effect. Proton VPN is one of the most popular VPN services, with a reputation for having some of the best privacy features of any VPN.

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The company has reported similar spikes in signups following high-profile bans in other countries. For instance, after PornHub was recently blocked in France, Proton VPN signups surged 1,000 percent.

Per a Reuters report, police responded to the civil unrest with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. The day turned violent after protesters forced their way into the parliament complex in Kathmandu.