1. Regulatory Non-Compliance: Failure to Register Locally:
Mandatory registration requirement: Under the 2023 Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media (Directive 2080), the Nepalese government mandated that all social media platforms operating in the country must:
- Register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT)
- Establish a liaison office or appoint a focal contact person within Nepal
- Set up a grievance redressal mechanism and self-regulation protocols
Supreme Court directive: A full bench of the Supreme Court issued an order reinforcing that no platform should operate without such registration, reinforcing the legal basis for government action.
Implementation timeline: The government issued several ultimatums, initially giving a 30-day window in March 2025, followed by a one-week ultimatum in late August. Most global platforms, including Meta’s services (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), YouTube, X, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Discord failed to comply by the deadline that expired around September 3–4, 2025.
Government action: As of September 4, 2025, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority was instructed to block access to approximately 26 major social media platforms that remain unregistered. Platforms that complied such as; TikTok, Viber, WeTalk, Nimbuzz, and Poppo Live—remain accessible. Telegram and GlobalLink are under consideration.
2. Government’s Justifications:
The government has cited several key concerns to justify its action:
Content accountability: Without local registration, companies cannot be effectively held accountable for content shared on their platforms particularly those considered harmful or illegal.
Curbing misinformation, cybercrime, and social disharmony: Officials argue that blocking unregistered platforms helps curb fake profiles, cybercrimes, hate speech, and misinformation that threaten societal harmony.
Legal and taxation compliance: Ensuring these platforms operate within Nepal’s legal framework enables better enforcement of laws, taxation, and content removal directives
3. Criticism & Concerns:
Freedom of expression at risk: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned that a blanket ban infringes on constitutional rights—namely freedom of expression, communication, and access to information and urged the government to consider alternatives.
Civil society backlash: Journalists, rights groups, and opposition parties have criticized the ban as disproportionate and digitally repressive, calling for regulation rather than outright shutdowns.
Public frustration & impact: Many young people, students, small businesses, educators, and freelancers who depended on platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram for work, learning, and outreach have voiced strong discontent and disruption.
Precedents of reversal: Nepal previously banned TikTok (in 2023) and Telegram (in July 2024), only to rescind these bans when the platforms initiated registration, suggesting flexibility in policy enforcement.
4. Can the Ban Be Reversed?
Yes. The government has indicated that access to banned platforms may be restored immediately upon completing the required registration. This suggests the ban is regulatory and compliance-based not indefinite censorship.
Conclusion:
As of early September 2025, Nepal has temporarily banned access to dozens of major social media platforms due to their failure to comply with domestic registration regulations, required for accountability, oversight, and content control. While intended to strengthen governance of digital platforms, the move has sparked widespread criticism for posing risks to free speech, civic engagement, and livelihood highlighting an ongoing tension between regulation and rights in the digital era.
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