KATHMANDU: The social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has formally informed the Nepal government that it will not register its operations in what it described as a corrupt country.
Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, who also serves as government spokesperson, revealed the correspondence during a briefing with journalists on Monday.
According to Gurung, X sent an official letter to the ministry, stating that it would not comply with Nepal’s call for social media platforms to register domestically due to high levels of corruption and lack of transparency.
The refusal triggered anger from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who reportedly insisted in a Cabinet meeting that unregistered social media platforms must remain blocked. However, the government faced pushback from within the ruling coalition. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba went to Baluwatar and pressured Oli to lift the ban.
Following the intervention, Minister Gurung instructed internet service providers to reopen access to the banned platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X.
The Nepal government had blocked 26 social media platforms on September 4 after companies failed to respond to its call for mandatory registration. Officials had argued that registration was necessary for oversight, while critics condemned the ban as an attack on free expression.
For now, access has been restored, but the government’s regulatory approach to digital platforms remains in flux, as global tech companies show little interest in complying with Nepal’s directives.
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