The social media ban in Nepal, which came into effect on September 4, 2025, was a direct result of the government's decision to block 26 social media platforms for failing to comply with local registration rules and broader concerns over online content.
The government cited several reasons for the ban:
- Non-compliance with Registration Directives The primary stated reason was the failure of major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Reddit, Snapchat, and Discord, to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology under new rules. The government had asked global platforms to register in Nepal a year prior, with a final seven-day deadline expiring before the ban was enforced. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli defended the ban as a matter of "national dignity" and regulatory compliance, arguing that the country "cannot tolerate firms making money within its borders while disregarding national law, refusing oversight, and ignoring constitutional requirements".
- Concerns over Misinformation, Hate Speech, and Cybercrime Officials argued that the measure was needed to curb harmful content, prevent scams, phishing, and identity misuse, and regulate advertising revenues flowing abroad. The government stated that the rapid spread of false information and hate speech threatened "social harmony".
- Accountability and Privacy Compliance The government sought to enforce accountability from social media companies regarding data handling and grievance redressal, with local registration and compliance requirements increasing the potential for surveillance and efforts to ensure user data is stored locally.
- Curbing Dissent and Online Exposure Critics, however, argue that the ban was perceived as an attempt to suppress dissent, control the digital narrative, and silence online exposures of elite privilege and corruption, such as the #NepoKids campaign. Many viewed the ban as a violation of their rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
The Nepal Supreme Court's order in early 2025, which instructed the government to enforce compliance with the Social Media Directive Nepal 2023, provided the legal foundation for the ban. However, civil society groups contend that the court's intention was regulation, not censorship.
0 Comments