Kathmandu: The government has warned major social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) to register in Nepal by mid-April or face a nationwide ban.
Speaking at the 8th National Convention of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FONIJ) on Friday, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said that despite being formally notified two months ago, platforms like Meta have failed to respond.
“If these social platforms fail to register by the end of Chaitra, we’ll shut them down,” Gurung said. He emphasized that the move is necessary to curb scams and unregulated content online. “These companies are registered and pay taxes in countries like India. Why should Nepal be an exception?” he added.
The government had earlier issued a 30-day notice to social media platforms, asking them to comply with regulatory requirements, which include appointing a local point of contact, a grievance officer, and a compliance monitoring officer.
While platforms such as Viber, TikTok, and WeChat have already completed the registration process, Meta, YouTube, and X are yet to comply.
Addressing growing concerns about a possible crackdown on online news portals, Gurung clarified that there are no plans to restrict digital media. “Freedom of the press, as enshrined in our constitution, will be honored,” he said.
The minister also revealed that several new bills are in the pipeline, including a Press Council bill to resolve leadership disputes, a cybersecurity bill aimed at addressing online threats, and a mass communication bill that seeks to better regulate media organizations and ensure fair compensation for journalists.