Nepal Government to Deactivate Unregistered Social Media Platforms

News 05 Sep 2025 248

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has decided to gradually deactivate all social media platforms that are not registered with the ministry. A ministerial-level meeting held on Thursday instructed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, the regulator of telecommunications and internet services, to take action accordingly.

The ministry had repeatedly notified social media companies to get registered in Nepal, but after continued non-compliance, the Cabinet directed their deactivation. This move comes after the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order and the Cabinet’s decision of Bhadra 9.

Government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, clarified that the intention is not to permanently shut down social media. “As soon as the companies come into contact and register, they will resume normal operations. Platforms that are already registered or in the process will not be shut down and will continue without disruption,” he said.

Currently Registered Platforms

According to ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur, five social media platforms have been registered so far:

TikTok (16 Ashwin 2081)
Witk (8 Kartik 2081)
Viber (24 Falgun 2081)
Nimbuzz (21 Baisakh 2082)
Popo Live (recently registered)

Additionally, Telegram, Global Diary, and Hamro Patro are in the registration process. A ministry study shows that around 25 social media platforms are actively used in Nepal. The exact number to be deactivated is yet to be confirmed.

Thakur emphasized that the decision is not based on ethnic, religious, or cultural harmony issues but on compliance with Nepal’s laws. “Just like a newspaper or online portal cannot operate without registration, social media must also register if they want to operate in Nepal,” he said. The government has only asked operators to register as a contact point under the ministry, not to set up physical offices.

Clarification on Meta

The ministry also denied rumors that Facebook’s parent company, Meta, had already contacted the government to comply. Minister Gurung stated that by Thursday evening, Meta had not officially reached out. The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has already instructed all service providers to block 26 social media platforms as per the ministry’s directive.

Internet Providers to Implement Decision

The Internet Service Providers’ Association of Nepal (ISPAN) confirmed it will implement the government’s decision. ISPAN issued a statement on Thursday evening, apologizing to customers for the inconvenience.

Nepal Telecom, Ncell, and WorldLink have already started enforcing the decision. According to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, there are currently 108 internet service providers across the country. The ministry had previously issued three public notices requesting registration. In addition, guidelines to regulate social media usage were introduced on 11 Mangsir 2080.