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Nepal announced on Thursday its plans to restrict access to multiple social media platforms, such as Facebook, due to their failure to comply with registration requirements amid efforts to curb misuse. The government states that individuals using fake IDs are fueling hate, spreading rumors, engaging in cybercrimes, and disrupting social harmony across a nation where nearly 90% of the 30 million residents regularly use the internet. Authorities had set a deadline for companies to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, specifying a local contact, a grievance handler, and a designated person responsible for self-regulation—failure to do so would result in platform shutdowns. On Thursday, a government notice directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to deactivate unregistered social media apps, although it did not specify which platforms would be affected. A senior official from the Ministry of Communications told Reuters that while TikTok, Viber, WeTalk, Nimbuzz, and Poppo Live had registered, Facebook and other apps had not. The parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, Meta, has yet to comment.
The minister responsible, Prithvi Subba Gurung, emphasized that ample time was provided for registration and repeated requests for compliance, which were ignored, leading to the shutdown of these platforms in Nepal. Globally, governments including those in the US, EU, Brazil, and Australia are intensifying regulation of social media and large technology firms, citing concerns over misinformation, data privacy breaches, online harm, and national security threats. India has mandated the appointment of local compliance officers and takedown procedures, while China enforces strict censorship and licensing controls. Critics argue that these regulatory measures can threaten free expression, though officials maintain that increased accountability is essential to safeguard users and social order. Manish Jha, spokesperson for Nepal’s fourth-largest political party, the National Independent Party, remarked, “Social media should be legally monitored and regulated to prevent malicious content, but shutting platforms down entirely is not the solution.”
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