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133 bans

From apps and books to foods, products and everyday habits, this is TabooWorld's database of what governments around the world have banned, restricted or quietly un-banned, and why. Every entry shows its status, the year the ban started, the reason behind it and the sources we checked, with a "last checked" date so you know how current it is. Pick a country to see everything banned there, choose a category like books or apps, or combine both. Laws change often, so we review entries regularly and mark lifted bans instead of deleting them.

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CanadaBannedBaby walkersCanada was the first country to ban baby walkers because of head injuries from falls.ProductsSince 2004Details →ChinaBannedGoogle SearchGoogle moved its Chinese search service to Hong Kong in 2010 after refusing to censor results; its services are blocked by the Great Firewall.Apps & WebsitesSince 2010Details →USABannedKinder Surprise eggsBanned in the US because a 1938 food law forbids candy with a non-edible object inside. CBP seizes the eggs at the border, but Kinder Joy, with its toy in a separate half, is legal.Food & DrinkSince 1938Details →USABannedLawn dartsBanned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission after injuries and deaths among children.ProductsSince 1988Details →North KoreaBannedOpen internet accessOrdinary citizens can only use the state intranet Kwangmyong; the global internet is reserved for a small elite.Apps & WebsitesDetails →IranBannedThe Satanic Verses (Salman Rushdie)Banned as blasphemous; in 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for the author's death.BooksSince 1988Details →USABannedTraditional haggisTraditional haggis is banned in the US because a 1971 USDA rule bars livestock lungs from human food. Lung-free haggis made in the US is legal to sell.Food & DrinkSince 1971Details →USARestrictedA Clockwork Orange (Anthony Burgess)A 1962 dystopian novel by Anthony Burgess that topped PEN America's most banned list for 2024-25, with bans in 23 school districts. Challenged over violence and language; not banned nationwide.BooksSince 1973Details →SingaporeRestrictedChewing gumSale and import banned in 1992 to stop litter; therapeutic gum has been sold in pharmacies since 2004.Food & DrinkSince 1992Details →USARestrictedGender Queer by Maia KobabePulled from some US school systems, including in Florida and Texas, over its LGBTQ+ themes and illustrated sexual content. It topped the ALA's most-challenged list from 2021 to 2023.BooksSince 2021Details →

All Bans

USARestrictedSean StricklandStrickland said he was banned from UFC Freedom 250 over his criticism of President Trump. The UFC denied any ban, but police removed him from the White House fan fest on June 14, 2026 and told him not to return.Activities & LawsSince 2026Details →USARestrictedStevia (Leaf & Crude Extracts)The FDA blocked stevia imports in 1991 as an unsafe food additive. Purified extracts were cleared in 2008, but whole-leaf and crude stevia still can't be sold as sweeteners in the US.Food & DrinkSince 1991Details →Saudi ArabiaBannedAlcoholMaking, selling and drinking alcohol is prohibited; a single licensed store for non-Muslim diplomats opened in 2024.Food & DrinkDetails →USABannedBrominated vegetable oil (BVO)Banned in US food and drinks since 2 August 2024 by the FDA, with a compliance deadline of 2 August 2025. The UK banned it in 1997 and the EU in 2008.Food & DrinkSince 2024-08-02Details →UAEBannedCBD productsCBD oils, gummies, vapes and creams count as cannabis derivatives under Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021. Customs test for THC, and possession inside the UAE is a crime.ProductsDetails →SingaporeBannedChewing tobacco and snuffSince 1 August 2016, gutkha, khaini, zarda, chewing tobacco and nasal or oral snuff (including snus) cannot be imported, distributed or sold. Smugglers have been jailed.ProductsSince 2016-08-01Details →ChinaBannedChristopher Robin (2018)Denied a release in China; media widely linked it to Winnie the Pooh memes mocking Xi Jinping.Movies & TVSince 2018Details →RussiaBannedDiscordBlocked on 8 October 2024 after Discord ignored an order to delete 947 items Russia called illegal. Roskomnadzor said the platform was used for terrorism, extremism and drug sales.Apps & WebsitesSince 2024-10-08Details →UKBannedDisposable vapesSale and supply banned from June 2025 to cut youth vaping and waste.ProductsSince 2025Details →SingaporeBannedE-cigarettes and vapesBuying, using and owning vapes has been illegal since 2018. From 1 Sept 2025, fines rose to S$700 for adults, and etomidate Kpods became a Class C drug, with deportation risk for foreigners.ProductsSince 2018Details →ThailandBannedE-cigarettes and vapesImporting, selling and owning vapes is illegal; tourists have been fined and detained.ProductsSince 2014Details →SingaporeBannedEating and drinking on public transportEating and drinking are banned on MRT trains and most MRT premises under the Rapid Transit Systems Regulations, and on public buses under new rules from 23 Sept 2026. Fines up to S$500.Activities & LawsDetails →ChinaBannedEternals (2021)Never released in China. The block is widely linked to director Chloé Zhao, whose 2013 remark that China had lies everywhere resurfaced during her 2021 Oscar run for Nomadland.Movies & TVSince 2021Details →ChinaBannedFacebookBlocked after the July 2009 Ürümqi unrest, when authorities said the platform was used to organise protests.Apps & WebsitesSince 2009Details →IranBannedFacebookBlocked after the protests that followed the 2009 presidential election.Apps & WebsitesSince 2009Details →RussiaBannedFacebookBlocked in March 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine; Meta was later labelled "extremist".Apps & WebsitesSince 2022Details →SingaporeBannedFeeding pigeonsIllegal under Section 5A of the Wildlife Act. 2026 amendments doubled maximum fines to S$10,000 (first offence) and S$20,000 plus up to 12 months' jail for repeat offenders.Activities & LawsSince 2020-06-01Details →FranceBannedFull-face coverings in publicA law in force since April 2011 bans hiding the face in public spaces, including the niqab and burqa.Clothing & SymbolsSince 2011Details →SingaporeBannedHeated tobacco and nicotine pouchesEmerging tobacco products, including smokeless cigarettes and dissolvable nicotine, have been banned since December 2015, so IQOS-style heated tobacco and nicotine pouches are not sold legally.ProductsSince 2015-12Details →GermanyBannedHolocaust denialDenying or trivialising the Holocaust is punishable under §130 of the Criminal Code.Activities & LawsDetails →AustraliaBannedHuawei and ZTE 5G equipmentExcluded from 5G networks over national-security concerns.ProductsSince 2018Details →ChinaBannedInstagramBlocked during the 2014 Hong Kong protests and never restored.Apps & WebsitesSince 2014Details →IranBannedInstagramBlocked in September 2022 during the protests after the death of Mahsa Amini.Apps & WebsitesSince 2022Details →RussiaBannedInstagramBlocked in March 2022 after Meta temporarily allowed some calls for violence against Russian soldiers.Apps & WebsitesSince 2022Details →UKBannedIvory salesThe Ivory Act 2022 bans dealing in elephant ivory, with narrow exemptions.ProductsSince 2022Details →RussiaBannedLinkedInBlocked for not storing Russian users' data on servers inside Russia.Apps & WebsitesSince 2016Details →UKBannedLuke LittlerLuke Littler is banned from competing in the PDC Development Tour due to his high ranking in the PDC Order of Merit, as the tour is only open to players outside the top 64 (previously top 32).Activities & LawsDetails →GermanyBannedNazi symbolsDisplaying the swastika and other Nazi symbols is a crime under §86a of the Criminal Code, except for art, education or research.Clothing & SymbolsDetails →SingaporeBannedPit Bulls and other prohibited dog breedsPit Bull types, Akita, Boerboel, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario and their crosses cannot be imported into Singapore.Activities & LawsDetails →Saudi ArabiaBannedPorkImporting pork and pork products is forbidden.Food & DrinkDetails →IndiaBannedPUBG MobileBanned in September 2020 on national-security grounds; an Indian version (BGMI) launched later.GamesSince 2020Details →ChinaBannedRedditBlocked since August 2018 during a wave of website bans. China gave no reason, and the block spread from Beijing and Shenzhen to the whole mainland. Reddit still works in Hong Kong.Apps & WebsitesSince 2018-08Details →Global (Riot Games sanctioned tournaments)BannedRiftbound banned cardsRiot Games, the developer of Riftbound, bans specific cards and battlefields from sanctioned tournaments to maintain competitive balance and healthy gameplay patterns.GamesSince 2026-03-31Details →TurkeyBannedRobloxBlocked since 7 August 2024 by an Adana court over content that prosecutors said could lead to child abuse. Reports in June 2026 that it had reopened were not confirmed.GamesSince 2024-08-07Details →EgyptBannedRobloxBlocked from 4 February 2026 after Egypt's Supreme Council for Media Regulation cited risks to children. Roblox said it was willing to talk, but no reopening has been announced.GamesSince 2026-02-04Details →IraqBannedRobloxBanned nationwide in October 2025 after the communications ministry, acting on Federal Supreme Court decisions, said in-game chat exposed children to exploitation and blackmail.GamesSince 2025-10Details →QatarBannedRobloxBlocked since 13 August 2025 after a social media campaign over child safety. The app still downloads but shows a 'No Network' error. Qatar never issued an official statement.GamesSince 2025-08-13Details →SpainBannedRuetooSpanish municipalities such as Barcelona issued cease‑and‑desist orders, citing illegal sublets and housing‑code violations, leading to a ban on Ruetoo.Apps & WebsitesSince 2023Details →GermanyBannedRuetooGerman cities, notably Berlin, fined hosts for operating without commercial licences and ordered the shutdown of Ruetoo for enabling illegal sublets.Apps & WebsitesSince 2023Details →NetherlandsBannedRuetooAmsterdam enforced strict short‑term rental rules, issuing cease‑and‑desist letters to Ruetoo for facilitating illegal rentals, prompting a ban.Apps & WebsitesSince 2023Details →ChinaBannedSeven Years in Tibet (1997)Banned since 1997 for its portrayal of Chinese rule in Tibet. China also barred director Jean-Jacques Annaud and stars Brad Pitt and David Thewlis from entering the country.Movies & TVSince 1997Details →ChinaBannedShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)Never released in China. It was the first Marvel Cinematic Universe film denied approval, amid criticism of the character's Fu Manchu origins and star Simu Liu's past comments.Movies & TVSince 2021Details →SingaporeBannedShishaShisha tobacco was banned on 28 November 2014; after a grace period ended on 31 July 2016, importing, wholesaling and selling shisha tobacco or molasses became illegal.ProductsSince 2014-11-28Details →RussiaBannedSignalBlocked on 9 August 2024. Roskomnadzor said Signal broke laws meant to stop messengers being used for terrorism and extremism. The app still partly works with its censorship circumvention setting.Apps & WebsitesSince 2024-08-09Details →ChinaBannedSignalBlocked since mid-March 2021, when Signal's website and app stopped working without a VPN. It was one of the last Western messengers still usable in China. It works in Hong Kong.Apps & WebsitesSince 2021-03Details →NorwayBannedSnoop DoggBanned for two years after being caught with 8 g of marijuana and excess cash at Kjevik Airport.MusicSince 2012Details →North KoreaBannedSouth Korean films and TV dramasThe 2020 Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act punishes watching or sharing South Korean media.Movies & TVSince 2020Details →RussiaBannedTelegramRestricted again since February 2026 after a first ban from 2018 to 2020. Roskomnadzor slowed Telegram nationwide for breaking Russian law and an official said in June 2026 that it was blocked.Apps & WebsitesSince 2026Details →ChinaBannedTelegramBlocked since July 2015, when state media accused Telegram of helping human rights lawyers organise during a nationwide crackdown. It only works in mainland China through a VPN.Apps & WebsitesSince 2015-07Details →IranBannedTelegramBlocked by court order in 2018 after it was used during anti-government protests.Apps & WebsitesSince 2018Details →IranBannedTikTokBlocked since October 2019, when TikTok cut off users in Iran and the state's filtering committee then banned it. Freedom House still lists TikTok among the global platforms banned in Iran in 2026.Apps & WebsitesSince 2019-10Details →IndiaBannedTikTokBanned with 58 other Chinese apps in June 2020 after the Galwan Valley border clash.Apps & WebsitesSince 2020Details →ChinaBannedTwitchBlocked since 20 September 2018, weeks after Chinese viewers flocked to Twitch to watch esports at the Asian Games. The app was also removed from China's Apple App Store.Apps & WebsitesSince 2018-09-20Details →North KoreaBannedUnauthorised international phone callsCalling abroad without permission is treated as a serious crime.Activities & LawsDetails →RussiaBannedViberBlocked on 13 December 2024. Roskomnadzor said Viber broke laws meant to stop terrorism, extremism, recruitment and drug sales. About 26% of Russians aged 12+ used it monthly before the ban.Apps & WebsitesSince 2024-12-13Details →JapanBannedVicks inhalers and some cold medicinesProducts with pseudoephedrine or similar stimulants cannot be brought into Japan.ProductsDetails →RussiaBannedWhatsAppBlocked on 12 February 2026, when Roskomnadzor removed WhatsApp from Russia's national DNS. The Kremlin said the app broke Russian law and told users to switch to Max, a state-backed messenger.Apps & WebsitesSince 2026-02-12Details →ChinaBannedWhatsAppFully blocked in 2017; its end-to-end encryption cannot be monitored by the state.Apps & WebsitesSince 2017Details →ChinaBannedWikipediaAll language editions have been blocked since April 2019.Apps & WebsitesSince 2019Details →ChinaBannedX (Twitter)Blocked since 2009 together with most foreign social networks.Apps & WebsitesSince 2009Details →IranBannedX (Twitter)Blocked since the 2009 protests, although many officials post on it.Apps & WebsitesSince 2009Details →North KoreaBannedYouTubeYouTube is blocked in North Korea due to the country's strict internet laws, and the government warns that anyone attempting to access it is subject to punishment.Apps & WebsitesDetails →RussiaBannedYouTubeRussia imposed a nationwide block on YouTube on February 12, 2026, culminating years of deteriorating relations following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and disputes over content and censorship.Apps & WebsitesSince 2026-02-12Details →TurkmenistanBannedYouTubeAs of September 2012, Turkmenistan was listed among countries with standing national bans on YouTube.Apps & WebsitesSince 2012-09Details →ChinaBannedYouTubeYouTube has been largely inaccessible from mainland China since March 2009, following earlier intermittent blocks, though it can be accessed via VPNs or in specific regions.Apps & WebsitesSince 2009-03Details →IranBannedYouTubeIran temporarily blocked YouTube in 2006 for violating social codes, lifted it, reinstated it after the 2009 election, and reblocked it in 2012 following the release of the 'Innocence of Muslims' trailer.Apps & WebsitesSince 2012Details →USARestrictedA Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J. Maas)A 2015 romantasy novel by Sarah J. Maas, among the first 13 books removed from all Utah public schools in 2024 and banned in 16 school districts in 2024-25. Not banned nationwide.BooksSince 2023Details →USARestrictedAll Boys Aren’t Blue (George M. Johnson)A memoir by George M. Johnson, named the most challenged book in the US in 2024 by the ALA. Removed from school libraries in many districts over its LGBTQ+ content; not banned nationwide.BooksSince 2021Details →UKRestrictedAspartameThe UK Food Standards Agency requires foods containing aspartame to identify it and carry a phenylalanine warning, so people with phenylketonuria can be informed.Food & DrinkDetails →IndiaRestrictedBeefCattle slaughter is banned or limited in most states; the rules differ by state.Food & DrinkDetails →SingaporeRestrictedBengal and Savannah cats (F1–F4)First- to fourth-generation Bengal and Savannah cat crosses cannot be imported. Cats at least five generations from the wild ancestor are allowed with documentary proof.Activities & LawsDetails →SingaporeRestrictedDrinking alcohol in public after 10.30pmPublic drinking is banned islandwide from 10.30pm to 7am under the Liquor Control Act 2015. Fines up to S$1,000; stricter rules and 1.5x penalties apply in Geylang and Little India.Activities & LawsSince 2015-04-01Details →SingaporeRestrictedDurian on public transportBanned on MRT trains since May 1988 and on public buses because of its smell in closed, air-conditioned spaces. Breaking MRT rules can cost up to S$500; vacuum-sealed durian is allowed.Food & DrinkSince 1988Details →SingaporeRestrictedE-scooters on footpathsE-scooters have been banned from footpaths since 5 November 2019 and may only be ridden on cycling paths and Park Connectors. Fines up to S$2,000; only UL2272-certified devices are allowed.Activities & LawsSince 2019-11-05Details →USARestrictedFallout by Ellen HopkinsRemoved from school libraries in a growing number of US districts, starting with Utah's Alpine district in 2022, over its frank treatment of drug addiction and sex. PEN America counted 19 bans in 2025–26.BooksSince 2022Details →Hong KongRestrictedGlory to Hong Kong (protest song)A 2024 court injunction bans broadcasting or sharing the song with seditious intent.MusicSince 2024Details →GreeceRestrictedHigh heels at ancient sitesStiletto heels are banned at archaeological sites such as the Acropolis to protect the monuments.Clothing & SymbolsSince 2009Details →USARestrictedLast Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda LoRemoved or restricted in several US school districts over its LGBTQ+ romance and sexual content, despite winning the 2021 National Book Award.BooksSince 2022Details →USARestrictedMaus (Art Spiegelman)Removed from the curriculum by a Tennessee school board in January 2022, which led to a sales surge.BooksSince 2022Details →FranceRestrictedMobile phones in schools (under 15)Pupils in primary and middle schools may not use phones during the school day.ProductsSince 2018Details →USARestrictedNew Huawei and ZTE equipmentThe FCC stopped approving new telecom equipment from these companies on national-security grounds.ProductsSince 2022Details →USARestrictedNineteen Minutes (Jodi Picoult)A 2007 novel about a school shooting, named the most commonly banned book in US schools in 2023-24 by PEN America. Removed in 50+ districts; not banned nationwide.BooksSince 2008Details →FranceRestrictedPepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate)Bismuth medicines have been tightly controlled in France since a 1970s outbreak of bismuth brain toxicity, so the pink US remedy is rarely sold there.ProductsSince 1970sDetails →UAERestrictedPhotographing people without consentUnder Article 44 of the 2021 cybercrime law, taking or sharing photos of people without consent can mean at least six months in prison and/or a Dh150,000–Dh500,000 fine.Activities & LawsSince 2022-01-02Details →USARestrictedRaw milk (interstate sales)Selling raw milk across state lines has been banned since 9 September 1987 under 21 CFR 1240.61. Sales inside a state depend on state law; aged raw-milk cheese is exempt.Food & DrinkSince 1987-09-09Details →USARestrictedRed Dye No. 3FDA revoked approval on 15 January 2025 under the Delaney Clause after cancer findings in male rats. Food makers must stop using it by 15 January 2027; California's ban also starts in 2027.Food & DrinkSince 2025-01-15Details →ChinaRestrictedRobloxRoblox has been restricted or completely blocked in China.GamesDetails →EgyptRestrictedRobloxGamesDetails →IraqRestrictedRobloxGamesDetails →SingaporeRestrictedSmartphones in secondary schoolsFrom January 2026, secondary students cannot use smartphones or smartwatches at any time during school hours, including recess and CCAs. Devices stay in lockers or bags.ProductsSince 2026-01Details →SingaporeRestrictedSmoking on Orchard RoadOrchard Road has been a No Smoking Zone since 1 January 2019; smoking is allowed only in Designated Smoking Areas. Offenders face a S$200 composition fine or up to S$1,000 in court.Activities & LawsSince 2019-01-01Details →AustraliaRestrictedSocial media accounts for under-16sFrom December 2025, platforms must stop under-16s from holding accounts.Apps & WebsitesSince 2025Details →ChinaRestrictedSpider-Man: No Way Home (2021)Not released in China after Sony refused a censorship demand to cut or shrink the Statue of Liberty from the film's climax. Sony's film chief later confirmed the request.Movies & TVSince 2021Details →USARestrictedStorm and Fury (Jennifer L. Armentrout)A YA fantasy novel by Jennifer L. Armentrout, listed among PEN America's most banned books of 2024-25 with 16 recorded bans. Removed from some school libraries over sexual content; not banned nationwide.BooksSince 2023Details →USARestrictedThe Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison)One of the most often challenged books in US schools; removed in a number of districts.BooksDetails →USARestrictedThe Fault in Our Stars by John GreenPulled from Riverside, California middle schools in 2014 over sexual content, crude language and its focus on death, then moved to the adult section of an Indiana public library in 2023 before that policy was paused.BooksSince 2014Details →USARestrictedThe Giver (Lois Lowry)Challenged in U.S. schools since 1994 over infanticide, euthanasia, suicide and puberty themes. Some districts pulled or limited it, but there is no national ban and it is still widely taught.BooksSince 1994Details →USARestrictedThe Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)The Hunger Games is not illegal in the USA, but some public school districts have removed or age-restricted it after parent complaints about violence and age suitability.BooksSince 2010Details →ThailandRestrictedThree-Finger Salute (The Hunger Games)Thailand's military government banned the Hunger Games three-finger salute in 2014 after protesters used it against the coup. It can still draw police action at political gatherings.BooksSince 2014Details →USARestrictedTricks (Ellen Hopkins)A 2009 novel in verse by Ellen Hopkins about five teens who fall into prostitution. Banned from all Utah public schools since March 2025 and still on the statewide list; not banned nationwide.BooksSince 2025Details →IranRestrictedWhatsAppBanned in 2022 and freed in December 2024, WhatsApp was restricted again after the 2025 war and the 2026 shutdowns. Since May 2026 it has needed a workaround, though officials have hinted at reopening it.Apps & WebsitesSince 2025Details →UKRestrictedXL Bully dogs without exemptionXL Bully dogs were added to the Dangerous Dogs Act; owners need an exemption certificate.Activities & LawsSince 2024Details →EritreaRestrictedYouTubeYouTube has been intermittently blocked in Eritrea by some ISPs since 2011, with speculation that bandwidth considerations are a contributing factor.Apps & WebsitesSince 2011Details →USABan liftedAbsintheBanned in the US in 1912 over fears about thujone, then legal again in 2007 once makers showed their absinthe was 'thujone-free' (under 10 ppm). Labels still face strict rules.Food & DrinkBanned 1912Details →UAEBan liftedAlcohol without a licenceResidents once needed a government licence to buy, carry or drink alcohol. Since November 2020 adults aged 21+ can drink without one, at home or in licensed venues.Activities & LawsDetails →ItalyBan liftedChatGPTTemporarily blocked by the data protection authority in March 2023; restored about a month later.Apps & WebsitesBanned 2023Details →USABan liftedClaude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 (Anthropic)Suspended in June 2026 after a US export control order. Fable 5 returned on July 1.Apps & WebsitesBanned 2026Details →Saudi ArabiaBan liftedPublic cinemasCinemas were shut in the early 1980s and allowed to reopen in 2018.Movies & TVBanned 1980sDetails →RussiaBan liftedRobloxBlocked by Roskomnadzor on 3 December 2025 over 'extremist' and 'LGBT' content, then unblocked on 10 June 2026 after Roblox added age limits. In-game chat stays off in Russia.GamesBanned 2025-12-03Details →KuwaitBan liftedRobloxBlocked by regulator CITRA on 21 August 2025 over child-safety complaints, then lifted on 28 October 2025 after Roblox agreed to remove content offensive to Kuwaiti values.GamesBanned 2025-08-21Details →UKBan liftedSnoop DoggIndefinite ban imposed after a 2006 violent‑disorder incident at Heathrow; lifted after an immigration judge ruled in his favor in 2008 (finalized 2010).MusicBanned 2008Details →AustraliaBan liftedSnoop DoggRefused entry on character grounds in 2007 due to criminal record; the decision was later reversed allowing a work visa.MusicBanned 2007Details →UKBan liftedSpycatcher (Peter Wright)The government tried to block the MI5 memoir; the courts lifted the restrictions in 1988.BooksBanned 1987Details →RussiaBan liftedTelegramApps & WebsitesDetails →IndiaBan liftedThe Satanic Verses (Salman Rushdie)Import was banned in 1988; in 2024 the Delhi High Court said the ban notification could not be found and closed the case.BooksBanned 1988Details →USABan liftedTikTokA 2024 law forced ByteDance to sell or face a ban. TikTok went dark for about 14 hours in January 2025, then a mostly US-owned joint venture took over US operations on 22 January 2026.Apps & WebsitesBanned 2025-01-19Details →NigeriaBan liftedTwitterSuspended in June 2021 after it deleted a presidential tweet; the ban was lifted in January 2022.Apps & WebsitesBanned 2021Details →UAEBan liftedUnmarried couples living togetherLiving together unmarried was a crime under Article 356 of the 1987 Penal Code, punishable by up to a year in prison. A November 2020 reform decriminalised it across the UAE.Activities & LawsBanned 1987Details →TurkeyBan liftedWikipediaBlocked in 2017; the Constitutional Court ruled the ban unconstitutional and access returned in December 2019.Apps & WebsitesBanned 2017Details →Saudi ArabiaBan liftedWomen drivingSaudi Arabia was the only country where women could not drive; the ban ended in June 2018.Activities & LawsDetails →BrazilBan liftedX (Twitter)Suspended by the Supreme Court in August 2024 in a dispute over court orders; restored in October 2024.Apps & WebsitesBanned 2024Details →GermanyBan liftedYouTubeMany YouTube videos featuring copyrighted songs were inaccessible in Germany due to royalty disputes between GEMA and YouTube, but access was restored after an agreement in November 2016.Apps & WebsitesBanned 2016-11Details →PakistanBan liftedYouTubeBlocked in 2012 over an anti-Islam video; access returned in 2016 with a local version.Apps & WebsitesBanned 2012Details →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country bans the most things?

In our list, USA (26), followed by China (17) and Singapore (14).

Have any of these bans been lifted?

Yes, including Absinthe (1912), Alcohol without a licence, ChatGPT (2023), Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 (Anthropic) (2026) and Public cinemas (1980s). Lifted bans stay on the list, marked "Ban lifted", so you can see how the rules changed.

Is this list up to date?

We review entries regularly and add new bans as they happen. Laws change, so check an official government source before you travel or act on this information.

Laws change often and many bans have exceptions. This list is for general information, not legal or travel advice. Check official government sources before you travel. Last updated: 01/11/2026.