The Nepali authorities on Thursday instituted a widespread block on main social media platforms, together with Fb, WhatsApp, Instagram, and X (previously Twitter), limiting entry to 26 platforms throughout the nation. The choice, enforced by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), follows the platforms’ failure to adjust to the directive requiring registration with the Ministry of Communications and Info Expertise inside three months.
The directive, issued below the 2023 Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, required platforms to determine a neighborhood liaison workplace, appoint a grievance officer, and implement self-regulation mechanisms. The deadline for compliance, set on August 28, expired on September 3, prompting the federal government’s decisive motion.
The choice was taken at a ministerial-level assembly chaired by Minister for Communication and Info Expertise Prithvi Subba Gurung, in response to ministry sources. The federal government said that the transfer is meant to implement the Supreme Courtroom’s mandamus order (Case No. 080-8-0012) in addition to earlier Cupboard choices.
Earlier, a joint bench of Justice Tek Prasad Dhungana and Shanti Singh Thapa had directed the federal government to limit unregistered social media platforms, over-the-top (OTT) apps, and web browsers that broadcast ads in Nepal. The courtroom additionally ordered that international broadcasters get hold of permission to function in Nepal and instructed the federal government to draft the required rules. The Supreme Courtroom upheld the registration requirement final month, aiming to curb misinformation and guarantee platforms are correctly managed.
Ministry spokesman Gajendra Kumar Thakur stated, “Unregistered social media platforms might be deactivated from at present onwards.” Minister Gurung added, “We gave them sufficient time to register and repeatedly requested them to adjust to our request, however they ignored this, and we needed to shut their operations in Nepal.”
The NTA, appearing on directions from its line ministry, printed an inventory of 26 platforms to be blocked. The affected platforms embody Fb, Instagram, YouTube, X, Reddit, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Discord, Pinterest, Sign, Threads, WeChat, Quora, Tumblr, Clubhouse, Rumble, Line, Imo, Jalo, Sol, Hamro Patro, Mi Video, Mi Vike3, and others. Notably, TikTok and Viber are among the many social media apps not affected by the newest order, as they’ve already registered with the federal government. X has not too long ago registered itself on Friday.
In response, customers on Fb and X started posting what they described as their “final images,” expressing shock and dismay on the sudden resolution. Writ petitions have been submitted to the Supreme Courtroom difficult the federal government’s resolution to ban unregistered social media platforms. In response to Nirajan Pandey, assistant spokesperson for the Supreme Courtroom, the petitions haven’t but been registered. He stated, “Petitions have been obtained from many individuals. The Supreme Courtroom remains to be reviewing them.”
The Social Media Invoice 2081 has been registered on the Nationwide Meeting on January 28, 2025, to manage social networking platforms. Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung registered the invoice, which can convert to the Social Media Act, 2081, after approval.
