KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has urged the public not to use unauthorized or risky virtual private networks (VPNs) to access deactivated social media platforms.
The ministry issued the request following the Nepal Telecommunications Authority’s decision to restrict access to unlisted social networking platforms through internet service providers (ISPs) across the country. These platforms have been officially deactivated as part of government efforts to regulate digital spaces.
So far, only Hamro Patro and Global Diary have completed the registration process and are officially permitted to operate, according to Joint Secretary and ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur.
He added that two major platforms—X (formerly Twitter) and WeChat—have already requested information to begin the listing process, and the necessary details have been provided by the government.
Under the Guidelines for Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2080, all platforms operating in Nepal must register by designating a local contact point, appointing a resident complaint officer, and assigning a self-regulation compliance officer.
The ministry has clarified that there is no fee for the listing process, and once listed, platforms will be reactivated immediately.
Spokesperson Thakur emphasized that the government is not aiming to ban or suppress citizens’ use of social media but is working to implement regulations fairly. “We urge everyone to cooperate with the government’s decisions rather than circumventing them through unauthorized means,” he said.
The government formally began deactivating unlisted social media platforms, following a seven-day notice period issued on the same date. All unregistered platforms were blocked within the given timeframe.
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