KATHMANDU: The government has decided to deactivate social media platforms operating in Nepal without official registration, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology on Thursday.
The ministry stated that the move follows a Supreme Court order requiring both domestic and foreign online and social media platforms to undergo mandatory registration before operation in Nepal.
Earlier, the Council of Ministers, on August 25, directed platforms to register within seven days under the “Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2080.” On August 28, the ministry had publicly called on social media companies to initiate contact for registration.
However, platforms that failed to comply within the given timeframe are being deactivated inside the country, with the Nepal Telecommunications Authority instructed to reactivate them once registration is completed.
According to the ministry, mandatory registration is aimed at ensuring oversight and assessment of objectionable content.
Currently, platforms such as Viber, TikTok, Wetalk and Nimbuzz are registered, while Telegram and Global Diary are in the process. Widely used platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), and WhatsApp have yet to initiate registration.
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