Nepal has blocked several major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, X, and WhatsApp, due to their failure to comply with government registration requirements. This decision follows directives issued in 2023 by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, which require all networks to register before operating in the country. The move mirrors a global trend of governments increasingly regulating Big Tech, as seen in various parts of the world.
The ban was implemented after the Supreme Court recently upheld the government’s requirement for all platforms, both foreign and domestic, to officially register for content monitoring. The government maintains that these rules are essential for curbing fake accounts, hate speech, and cybercrime, given that almost nine out of ten Nepali citizens use the internet. Platforms were given a week from August 28 to apply for registration, but the deadline passed without any of the major global players, including Meta, Alphabet, X, Reddit, and LinkedIn, submitting applications. Consequently, 26 platforms that ignored the directives have now been blocked.
According to local media reports, platforms such as TikTok and Viber have successfully registered, while Telegram and Global Diary are still awaiting approval. Ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur stated that any platform that completes registration will be reopened the same day. However, the decision has sparked significant online backlash, with social media users criticizing the move as regressive in the digital era and warning it risks cutting millions off from services they rely on daily.
On a global scale, governments from the U.S., EU, Brazil, and Australia are also moving to strengthen control over social media, citing concerns about fake news, data misuse, and security risks. Last month, Russia’s media watchdog restricted voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, citing their use in scams, extortion, and recruitment for sabotage and terrorist activities.