KATHMANDU – The Government of Nepal has officially begun to block social media sites that have not registered with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology as required by a new national rule. Users who try to log in to Facebook, Instagram, and other sites from web browsers are having trouble because of the restriction that went into place on Thursday.
The Communication and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung held a meeting of the cabinet that resolved to restrict 26 platforms. This happened after a seven-day deadline that ended on Wednesday for all social media firms, both in the US and abroad, that had not yet registered.
A ministry official said that big platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), Alphabet (YouTube), X (previously Twitter), Reddit, and LinkedIn have not yet contacted the ministry to start the registration procedure. On the other hand, a select platforms, such TikTok and Viber, have already signed up, and Telegram and Global Diary are in the process of doing so.
People all throughout Nepal have said they are having problems, with browsers showing error messages like “hmm… something went wrong” and “This site can’t be reached” when they try to get to the platforms. Some people may still be able to use mobile apps, but they expect that they will also stop operating when internet service providers completely enforce the restriction.
The government’s action follows a Supreme Court order on Wednesday. The court’s order, which came from writ petitions submitted almost five years ago, says that unlicensed social media platforms, OTT apps, and internet browsers must stop showing ads and content without permission from the law.
A notice from the ministry lists the steps that social media platforms must take to operate legally in Nepal. These include registering with the ministry, setting up a local office with a contact person, hiring people to handle complaints from locals, and hiring people to make sure that the rules are followed. The government has said that services for these platforms may start up again as soon as they finish registering.
Users are worried about the ban, especially those who use these sites for work and to stay in touch with family members who live abroad. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists has also spoken out against the government’s decision, saying that it violates constitutional rights to freedom of speech and information.