Nepal bans Facebook and major social media platforms

Nepal has banned Facebook and several other major social media platforms for failing to register with the government. The decision, enforced from Thursday midnight, blocks access to sites including Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit within the country.

The ban follows a Supreme Court order requiring all social media platforms operating in Nepal to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, explains a report by Nepal-based daily Kathmandu Post on the matter. The government had given companies seven days to apply, but major platforms including Meta, Alphabet, and X did not submit applications. In contrast, TikTok, Viber, and three other smaller platforms are already registered, while Telegram and Global Diary have applications under review, states the report.

According to Kathmandu Post, a government spokesperson stated that any platform that completes registration will be reinstated immediately. The move aims to improve oversight of online content and increase accountability among technology firms. The government of Nepal maintains that registration is essential to monitor harmful content and ensure compliance with national laws, adds the report.

This is the latest in a series of regulatory actions taken by Nepal concerning social media, following a months-long ban on TikTok last year.