Nepal has made Facebook, YouTube, X, WhatsApp, and many other social media platforms inaccessible due to their failure to register with the government.
Nepal has blocked access to numerous major social media platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Reddit, because they didn’t comply with the country’s registration requirements. This action aligns with a global trend where governments are increasing their regulation of major technology companies.
The ban is a result of directives issued in 2023 by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, which mandated that all networks must register before operating in Nepal. The Supreme Court supported this measure, instructing the government to ensure that both foreign and domestic platforms are officially registered to allow for content monitoring.
The government states that these rules are intended to combat fake accounts, hate speech, and cybercrime in a nation where 90% of the population uses the internet. Platforms were given until August 28, plus one week, to apply for registration. However, the deadline passed on Wednesday night without major global players like Meta, Alphabet, X, Reddit, and LinkedIn submitting their applications.
A total of 26 platforms that disregarded the directives have now been blocked. Local media reports indicate that TikTok, Viber, and several smaller apps did register, while Telegram and Global Diary are awaiting approval.
“With the exception of the five listed platforms and the two in the application process, all others will be deactivated within Nepal,” stated ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur. He also mentioned that any platform completing registration would have its access restored the same day.
This decision has sparked online criticism, with social media users denouncing it as a step backward in the digital age and warning that it could cut off millions from essential daily services.
Globally, governments in regions from the US and EU to Brazil and Australia are working to increase control over social media, citing concerns about fake news, data misuse, and security threats. Last month, Russia’s media regulator restricted voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram due to their use in scams, extortion, and recruitment for sabotage and terrorist activities.
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