Nepal Bans Major Social Media

Nepal has imposed a ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Meta Platforms, Meta Platforms — Instagram, Google — YouTube, and X (social network), due to their failure to register with the government within a seven-day deadline. This decision follows a Supreme Court directive from 2020, which mandated that all online platforms operating in Nepal must register with authorities and monitor unwanted content. The government's 'Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2080' requires platforms to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, appoint a local contact person, and establish mechanisms for handling local complaints. While platforms like ByteDance — TikTok Shop and Rakuten — Viber complied and remain operational, others like Meta Platforms, Meta Platforms — Instagram, Google — YouTube, and X (social network) did not. Nepal's Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, stated that services would be restored once companies complete the registration process. However, the ban has drawn criticism from rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Access Now, who view it as a threat to freedom of expression and press freedom, comparing it to censorship.