Kathmandu: Internet service providers across Nepal have started blocking access to social media apps and websites that are not registered in the country, following a government directive issued on Thursday.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) instructed the ban on unregistered social media and Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms, in line with a Supreme Court order requiring regulation of online platforms.
The Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal (ISPAN) confirmed the move, saying its members were directed to comply immediately. “The process of blocking URLs has already begun in accordance with the order,” ISPAN Chief Executive Officer Subash Khadka said.
WorldLink Communications, one of Nepal’s largest ISPs, said unregistered platforms will no longer be accessible on its network. CG Net has also started restricting access to certain apps, including Facebook. Mobile service provider Ncell reported that some applications, including Facebook, have already become non-operational on its network.
The decision to enforce the ban was made during a ministerial meeting chaired by Communication and IT Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung. The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) subsequently instructed all ISPs to carry out the order.
The move follows an August 25 Supreme Court directive, in which Justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Shanti Singh Thapa ordered the government to ensure that all social media platforms operating in Nepal be registered. The court stated the measure was necessary to regulate harmful content, hold companies accountable, and require foreign platforms earning revenue from Nepali users to obtain official permission.
As implementation continues, widely used apps and platforms in Nepal have already started going offline.