Kathmandu, Sept 4 : The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has directed the deactivation of all social media platforms that are not registered with the government.
The ministry said it has instructed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, the regulator of telecommunication and internet services, to begin the process. A ministerial meeting held on Thursday decided to immediately block platforms that have not completed registration in Nepal. The move follows a Supreme Court order and a Cabinet decision taken on August 25.
Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung said the government was forced to act after repeated notices went unheeded. “Our objective is not to impose a permanent shutdown. Once the companies come into contact with us, their services will be resumed,” he said, adding that registered platforms or those in the process of registration would not be affected.
Ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur said TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz and Popo Live are already registered, while Telegram and Global Diary are under review. “A study conducted by the ministry shows that about 25 social media platforms are actively used in Nepal,” he said. “But it is not certain how many will face closure.”
