Nepal has ordered a ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and X, after they failed to register with the government within a seven-day deadline.
The decision comes in line with a Supreme Court directive and a ministerial meeting held on Thursday that included Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, ministry officials, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, telecom operators and internet service providers.
According to officials, restrictions will apply nationwide with immediate effect, and the ministry has begun issuing letters to the concerned companies. The government had earlier warned that non-compliant platforms would face suspension.
While Viber, TikTok, Wetalk and Nimbuzz are registered, and Telegram and Global Diary are in the process, major platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (X), WhatsApp, Reddit, LinkedIn and YouTube have yet to initiate registration. Officials said services may resume once platforms complete the registration process and comply with national rules.
“The Honourable Supreme Court, in a contempt of court case (Case No. 080-8-0012), has issued a directive order in the name of the Government of Nepal to mandatorily list domestic or foreign-origin online and social media platforms with the relevant authorities before operation and to evaluate and monitor unwanted content. In accordance with the decision of the Government of Nepal (Council of Ministers) dated 2082.05.09, for the implementation of the said order, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has published a public notice on 2082.05.12, giving a deadline of seven (7) days to list social media platforms as per the 'Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2080'. All stakeholders are hereby informed that the Nepal Telecommunication Authority has been directed to deactivate social media platforms within Nepal that have not contacted the Ministry for listing within the specified time limit and to reactivate them from the same moment if they are listed,” a notice issued by the ministry reads.
The ministry added that all other major social media and communication platforms, including Messenger, Snapchat, Discord, Pinterest, Signal, Threads, WeChat, Quora, Tumblr, Clubhouse, Rumble, Mi Video, Mi Vike, Line, Imo, Jalo, Sol and Hamro Patro, will also be blocked until they complete registration.
The Supreme Court issued its mandamus order on Wednesday, nearly five years after writ petitions were filed seeking restrictions on advertisements and content broadcast via unlicensed social media platforms, OTT apps and internet browsers. A joint bench of Justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Shanti Singh Thapa heard three petitions together and ruled in favour of the petitioners.
In December 2020, advocates B.P. Gautam and Anita Bajgain had filed writs demanding a ban on unrestricted broadcasts, including foreign advertisements, through social media. Manoj Gurung, General Secretary of the Nepal Cable Television Federation, filed a similar petition. The court consolidated the cases before issuing the mandamus, directing that unlicensed platforms must stop broadcasting advertisements and content without legal approval.
Government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung told the National Assembly on August 19 that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, was repeatedly urged to register in Nepal but responded that it was not ready to comply with Nepal’s laws and constitution.
According to the ministry’s notice, operational platforms must register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, designate contact points in Nepal, appoint officials to handle local complaints and assign compliance monitoring officers.
The decision comes in line with a Supreme Court directive and a ministerial meeting held on Thursday that included Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, ministry officials, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, telecom operators and internet service providers.
According to officials, restrictions will apply nationwide with immediate effect, and the ministry has begun issuing letters to the concerned companies. The government had earlier warned that non-compliant platforms would face suspension.
While Viber, TikTok, Wetalk and Nimbuzz are registered, and Telegram and Global Diary are in the process, major platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (X), WhatsApp, Reddit, LinkedIn and YouTube have yet to initiate registration. Officials said services may resume once platforms complete the registration process and comply with national rules.
“The Honourable Supreme Court, in a contempt of court case (Case No. 080-8-0012), has issued a directive order in the name of the Government of Nepal to mandatorily list domestic or foreign-origin online and social media platforms with the relevant authorities before operation and to evaluate and monitor unwanted content. In accordance with the decision of the Government of Nepal (Council of Ministers) dated 2082.05.09, for the implementation of the said order, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has published a public notice on 2082.05.12, giving a deadline of seven (7) days to list social media platforms as per the 'Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2080'. All stakeholders are hereby informed that the Nepal Telecommunication Authority has been directed to deactivate social media platforms within Nepal that have not contacted the Ministry for listing within the specified time limit and to reactivate them from the same moment if they are listed,” a notice issued by the ministry reads.
The ministry added that all other major social media and communication platforms, including Messenger, Snapchat, Discord, Pinterest, Signal, Threads, WeChat, Quora, Tumblr, Clubhouse, Rumble, Mi Video, Mi Vike, Line, Imo, Jalo, Sol and Hamro Patro, will also be blocked until they complete registration.
The Supreme Court issued its mandamus order on Wednesday, nearly five years after writ petitions were filed seeking restrictions on advertisements and content broadcast via unlicensed social media platforms, OTT apps and internet browsers. A joint bench of Justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Shanti Singh Thapa heard three petitions together and ruled in favour of the petitioners.
In December 2020, advocates B.P. Gautam and Anita Bajgain had filed writs demanding a ban on unrestricted broadcasts, including foreign advertisements, through social media. Manoj Gurung, General Secretary of the Nepal Cable Television Federation, filed a similar petition. The court consolidated the cases before issuing the mandamus, directing that unlicensed platforms must stop broadcasting advertisements and content without legal approval.
Government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung told the National Assembly on August 19 that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, was repeatedly urged to register in Nepal but responded that it was not ready to comply with Nepal’s laws and constitution.
According to the ministry’s notice, operational platforms must register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, designate contact points in Nepal, appoint officials to handle local complaints and assign compliance monitoring officers.
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