Gangtok, 4th September: The Government of Nepal has decided to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (X), for operating without registration in the country. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology announced the move on Thursday to implement a recent Supreme Court order as well as an earlier Cabinet decision. A letter has already been sent to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to enforce the ban immediately.
According to some media platforms in Nepal, the ban will remain in place until these platforms officially register in Nepal and follow local legal procedures. The government has also said that once registration begins, the platforms may be reopened step by step. The decision mainly targets foreign platforms that are operating in Nepal without official permission.
The Supreme Court, through a joint bench of Justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Shanti Singh Thapa, ordered the government on Wednesday to regulate unregistered social media, OTT apps, and online advertisements. The court also directed the government to introduce proper laws to control foreign broadcasters. As per existing rules, any foreign digital broadcaster or content provider must obtain permission before operating in Nepal.
