Nepal has announced blocking most social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, after the companies refused to comply with new regulations requiring them to register with the government.
Minister for Communication and Information Prithvi Subba Gurung said that about two dozen popular social networks in Nepal received repeated notices to officially register their companies but ignored them. “The platforms will be blocked immediately,” he told reporters.
TikTok, Viber and three other social media platforms will continue to operate because they have registered with the government.
While authorities have directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to disable all platforms that fail to meet the requirements, the action comes days after the government demanded that social media companies set up liaison offices in Nepal, appoint grievance officers and follow a strict code of conduct.
Officials argued that fake accounts and hate speech were fueling cybercrime and disturbing social harmony in a country where nearly 90 percent of the 30 million population uses the internet.
At the same time, the government has introduced a bill in parliament aimed at tightening control of social media. The legislation, which has not yet been fully debated, has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups. Activists say it could be used as a tool for censorship and to punish opponents voicing dissent online.
Officials defend the move, insisting that laws are needed to hold both users and operators accountable for what is published on social platforms.