Government Cites Non-Compliance with Registration Mandate
The government of Nepal on Thursday, September 4, 2025, ordered a sweeping ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), for failing to comply with new registration requirements. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to begin deactivating access to the platforms after a final seven-day deadline expired on Wednesday night.
The move is part of a broader effort by the government to regulate online content, which it says is necessary to curb the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and cybercrime. The registration mandate stems from the “Directives for Managing the Use of Social Networks, 2023,” and was reinforced by a recent Supreme Court order requiring all online platforms to be officially listed before operating in the country. According to sources at digitaltrendstoday.com, companies were required to establish a local presence by appointing a contact person and a grievance officer.
Communications and IT Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung stated that the tech giants had been given ample time to comply. “We gave them enough time to register and repeatedly requested them to comply with our request, but they ignored [this], and we had to shut their operations in Nepal,” Gurung said. Ministry spokesman Gajendra Kumar Thakur confirmed that any platform completing the registration process would have its access restored immediately.
Which Platforms Are Affected?
The NTA has been instructed to block a total of 26 platforms. While the ban is being implemented, some services remained accessible on Thursday. The list of major platforms facing deactivation includes:
- Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, Threads)
- Alphabet’s YouTube
- X (formerly Twitter)
- Snapchat
- Signal
Conversely, a handful of companies have complied with the regulations. Five platforms are fully registered and will remain operational: TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz, and Popo Live. Two others, Telegram and Global Diary, are currently in the registration process.
Backlash Over Freedom of Expression
The decision has drawn widespread criticism from rights groups, political opposition, and free speech advocates, who argue the ban is a disproportionate measure that infringes on fundamental rights. Bhola Nath Dhungana, president of Digital Rights Nepal, described the sudden closure as a “controlling” approach by the government that “directly hits the fundamental rights of the public.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warned that the move would severely hinder the work of journalists and the public’s access to information. Similarly, Hit Raj Pandey, chief whip of the main opposition party CPN (Maoist Centre), called the decision “objectionable” and warned that it could lead to chaos and was a curb on freedom of expression.
Economic and Social Repercussions
With an estimated 90% of Nepal’s 30 million people online, the ban is expected to cause significant disruption to daily life, communication, and commerce. The economic impact is a major concern, particularly for content creators and small businesses that rely on these platforms for their livelihood. The timing is especially poor, as Meta had just recently launched its monetization program in Nepal, allowing creators to earn income directly from their content on Facebook.
Experts predict that many users will turn to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass the restrictions, a trend observed during a previous nine-month ban on TikTok. This could lead to increased international bandwidth costs for internet service providers, potentially impacting their revenue. The TikTok ban, which was lifted in August 2024 after the company agreed to register, reportedly cost one major telecom operator nearly Rs 600 million in monthly revenue. The government maintains that the door remains open for the banned platforms to resume operations as soon as they comply with the law.
