Nepal Cracks Down on Unregistered Social Media Platforms, Blocks Facebook, X, and YouTube
The government of Nepal has moved to block access to a number of major social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube. This decisive action comes after the companies failed to comply with a new law requiring them to formally register with the government.
According to reports, the new regulation mandates that social media companies establish a local contact point, appoint a grievance handler, and designate a person responsible for self-regulation within the country. Platforms that did not meet these requirements faced being shut down. A spokesperson for the ministry confirmed the action, stating that unregistered social media platforms would be deactivated effective immediately.
Not all platforms were banned. Five services, including TikTok and Viber, which did complete the registration process, were exempted from the ban and remain accessible to users in Nepal.
The government has defended the directive, framing it as a necessary step to ensure that social media platforms are well-managed, responsible, and accountable. Officials stated that the law is an effort to curb the spread of online hate speech, dangerous rumors, and cybercrime within the nation.
However, the move has been met with significant criticism from digital rights advocates and press freedom organizations. Opponents argue that the law is less about protection and more about providing the government with a powerful tool for censorship and control over digital discourse.
The president of Digital Rights Nepal commented on the suddenness of the action, stating that while regulating social media is not inherently wrong, it requires a proper legal infrastructure to enforce fairly. He characterized the immediate closure of platforms as a controlling measure. The Federation of Nepali Journalists also voiced strong opposition, declaring that the ban undermines fundamental press freedom and the public’s right to information. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists also expressed its opposition to the government’s decision.
This action places Nepal among a growing list of countries seeking to tighten their oversight of major tech and social media companies. Nations including the United States, those in Europe, and Brazil have all moved to impose stricter regulations on these platforms with varying degrees of strictness. Nepal’s neighbor, India, has implemented similar rules requiring local compliance officers and content takedown mechanisms, previously even threatening legal action against employees of non-compliant firms.
The blocking of these primary communication channels raises immediate concerns about the flow of information in Nepal and the impact on citizens who rely on these apps for daily communication, business, and news.
