The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has announced that it will begin the process of gradually deactivating all social media platforms that are not registered with the ministry.
For this, the ministry has already directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, the regulatory body for telecommunications and internet services, to take action.
A ministerial-level meeting held today decided to immediately disable any social media platforms that have not been listed in Nepal. The ministry said the decision is in line with the Supreme Court’s order and the Cabinet’s decision of Bhadra 9.
According to Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, the government was compelled to take this step after repeated notices and requests for registration were ignored by several platforms. He clarified that the intention is not to impose a permanent ban, but rather to restrict them until they come into compliance, after which services can be resumed.
Minister Gurung also stated that platforms already registered, or currently in the process of being registered, will not face restrictions.
Ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur informed that TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz, and Popo Live have already been registered, while Telegram and Global Diary are in the process of registration.
A study by the ministry shows that around 25 social media platforms are currently being used actively in Nepal.
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