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Nepal has banned all 26 prominent social media sites, such as Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. The relocation follows failures in the platforms to meet the mandatory registration regulations of the government, even after being given numerous deadlines. On Thursday, September 4, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology affirmed the ban and ordered the Nepal Telecommunication Authority to shut down the sites until they are registered in the country.
Officials indicated it comes after a ruling by the Supreme Court that demanded all online platforms, both domestic and foreign, be registered by a competent authority. However, the critics claim that the stringent terms which are given by the government are invasive and geared towards censoring other voices. Free speech activists worry that the move will tarnish the image of democracy in Nepal and leave citizens of the country without international communication mediums.
The decision has been highly criticised by civil society organisations and media professionals. Some claim that the ban is not as much about regulation as it is about putting a check on the important voices. The director of the Centre of Media Research, Ujjwal Acharya, described the move as misplaced and said it would damage the democratic image of Nepal. In his opinion, the government has neglected the social and economic significance of social media in everyday life and in business.
Nepal has blocked online sites in the past. In November 2023, TikTok was banned by another government but later unblocked by agreeing to be registered. The administration of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has been criticised 14 months into office as it tightens the screws on online space and is advancing new laws that critics claim are suppressing freedom of expression.
Users reacted instantly to the announcement, flooding social media with messages of frustration, many writing what they (the users) suspected could be their final message. The extent to which social media has been penetrated, especially in communication, business, and social life, is underestimated by the government, critics say. Opponents note that the ban may work against them, sending a bad international message about Nepal and isolating its citizens on key online platforms.
