The government of Nepal has decided to close down social media platforms in Nepal that fail to be registered with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
A meeting held today, Thursday, led by Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, decided to ban social media platforms that fail to be listed within the stipulated deadline. It was decided to close 26 platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X.
The government had last given a seven-day deadline for listing. That deadline expired at 12 midnight last night.
The government had given seven days to social media platforms to list their websites in a cabinet meeting held on Bhadra 23. The Ministry of Communications then issued a notification on Bhadra 24.
So far, only TikTok, Viber, Nimbuzz, Vitalk, and Popo Live have been listed.
The Supreme Court had also issued a mandate in the name of the government to enact necessary laws to restrict and regulate content broadcast through unlisted social media, OTT apps, and internet browsers, including advertisements.
