KATHMANDU: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has issued a strong warning that Meta (Facebook) will be banned in Nepal if it fails to register within the next seven days.
Speaking at an interaction program on the Right to Information organized by the National Information Commission in Kathmandu on Friday, Gurung emphasized that Meta has repeatedly been issued notices to register in Nepal, but the company has not responded positively.
The minister pointed out that the deadline for the third notice had already expired a few days ago, and if Meta does not comply within the next week, the company will face a ban in the country.
“Meta must register in Nepal and pay taxes, as money is constantly flowing from Nepal to their offices abroad,” he stated.
“They boast that their income surpasses Nepal’s GDP. Every time you say Meta, you think of Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Millions of rupees are being sent to Meta’s offices every hour. Facebook, which is the most used platform in Nepal, is draining our money. How can we allow this? Shouldn’t they be registered here and pay taxes? Shouldn’t we control the harmful content spreading on these platforms?” Gurung asserted.
He further expressed frustration over the lack of action, stating that three notices have already been issued, with the most recent deadline having passed. He made it clear that the government would not extend the deadline further.
So far, only TikTok, Viber, and V-Talk have registered in Nepal, according to the minister.
Comment