The Nepal government on Thursday banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, after they failed to comply with regional regulations. The government action comes after the platform failed to register with Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
According to the notice issued by Nepal’s communication ministry, the ban was imposed after the social media companies failed to register in Nepal even after a seven-day deadline. The ministry had asked the social media platforms to register their businesses in Nepal, and they were given seven days from August 28 to register.
“Even when the deadline expired on Wednesday night, none of the large social media platforms, including Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), Alphabet (YouTube), X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and LinkedIn submitted applications,” the ministry noted.
According to the ministry, platforms like TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz, and Popo Live continue to operate as they have been listed; Telegram and Global Diary have applied and are in the process of approval. The ministry had given an ultimatum to all social media to register in Nepal.
“A meeting held this afternoon has decided to give the order to Nepal Telecommunication Authority to ban 26 social media platforms, effective today,” IT ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur told ANI. He added, if any platform completes registration, it will be reopened the same day.
Nepal had mandated registration of social media platforms under Managing the Use of Social Networks, 2023 Act. The government’s move is likely to affect over 7 million youth living outside the country for higher education and employment.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) condemned the move and sought immediate reversal of the decision. “The government’s move to ban social media sites without giving alternatives not only restricts freedom of expression and press freedom but it also affects the right to information guaranteed by the constitution,” it said in a statement.
