Nepal has banned major social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram after they failed to register with the government, sparking widespread concern.
Nepal Bans Facebook, YouTube and others Over Failure to Register
Kathmandu, Nepal - In a drastic and widely impactful move that has sent shockwaves through the nation, the government of Nepal on Thursday officially banned major international social media platforms, including the entire suite of Meta products (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) and Google's YouTube. The sweeping ban was enacted after these global tech giants failed to register with the country's Ministry of Communication and Information Technology by a stipulated deadline. The ban, which took effect from midnight on Thursday, has abruptly cut off access for millions of users, disrupted daily communication and commerce, and has been met with strong and immediate criticism from press freedom advocates, news and human rights organizations.
The decision was made after it became clear that none of the major global social media companies had complied with the government's directive. This list of non-compliant platforms includes some of the world's most influential technology firms: Meta (parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), Alphabet (parent company of YouTube), X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and LinkedIn. The government, through the ministry, had given these platforms a seven-day notice period, starting from August 28, which officially expired on Wednesday night without any applications being submitted by these major players.
In a formal announcement, the ministry was quick to point out that while the major players had ignored the deadline, a handful of other, smaller platforms have complied with the new regulations. According to the ministry's records, TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz, and Popo Live are now officially listed and registered to operate in Nepal. In addition, two other platforms, Telegram and Global Diary, have reportedly submitted their applications and are currently in the process of approval. The ministry's spokesperson, Gajendra Kumar Thakur, laid out the government's position clearly, stating, "Except for the five listed platforms and two in the process, all others will be deactivated within Nepal." He did, however, offer an immediate path to reinstatement, adding that if any banned platform completes the required registration process, its services will be reopened on the very same day.
The legal framework for this sweeping ban is the controversial "Directives for Managing the Use of Social Networks, 2023." This set of regulations mandates that all social media platforms operating in Nepal must register with the government, a move that critics argue is designed to increase state control over online content. The final decision to enforce the ban was made in a high-level meeting chaired by the Minister of Communications and IT, Prithvi Subba Gurung. Following this meeting, the ministry issued a direct order to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, the country's regulatory body for telecommunications, to immediately take the necessary technical steps to disable all unregistered social media sites across the country. As of the time of this report, the major social media companies have maintained a conspicuous silence and have not yet made any official comments on the Nepali government’s decision.
This sweeping ban is expected to have a profound and immediate impact on the daily lives of millions of Nepalese citizens, particularly the vast diaspora living and working abroad. Observers and social analysts have pointed out that platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp are not just tools for social networking but are essential, low-cost communication lifelines for the more than seven million Nepalese youth who are either pursuing higher education or are employed in countries around the world. Pralhad Rijal, a respected senior journalist and the editor of the business daily Arthik Dainik, noted the severe human cost of this decision, stating, "This will directly affect their communication with their family and friends at home."
The ban also carries significant and immediate economic consequences, particularly for the burgeoning community of digital entrepreneurs and content creators in Nepal. In a move that was celebrated by many, Facebook had only recently included Nepal in its exclusive list of countries eligible for its content monetization program. This development was set to allow a new generation of Nepali creators to earn a direct income from the videos, reels, and stories they produced. The government's ban has abruptly and indefinitely shut down this promising and emerging avenue for digital income for thousands of individuals and small businesses.
The move has drawn a sharp and unequivocal rebuke from the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), the country's leading body for press professionals. The FNJ has raised serious objections to the ban and has demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the decision. In a strongly worded public statement, FNJ General Secretary Ram Prasad Dahal declared, "The government’s move to ban social media sites without giving alternatives not only restricts freedom of expression and press freedom but it also affects the right to information guaranteed by the constitution." The federation has formally called on the government to respect these fundamental constitutional rights and to reverse the ban immediately. As the digital blackout on the world's most popular platforms continues, the government of Nepal faces mounting pressure from both its own citizens and international press freedom organizations. The long-term social, economic, and political fallout of this decision remains to be seen, but the immediate impact has been one of severe disruption, financial loss, and widespread concern.