Nepal said on Thursday that it would block access to more than two dozen social media platforms, including Facebook and X, for not getting a deadline to register in the country.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has instructed the telecommunications authority to deactivate access to unregistered platforms in the country, including meta-ownership Facebook, YouTube, X and LinkedIn.
“Not -registered social media platforms will be deactivated today,” said the spokesperson for the Gajendra Kumar Thakur ministry AFP.
“They will resume as soon as they register to register.”
The platforms were still available online on Thursday.
Last week, a government decision had given the companies seven days to register in Nepal, to establish a point of contact, to designate a resident complaint handling officer and a self -regulation officer.
The decision came after an order of the Supreme Court in September last year.
In 2023, the country adopted a directive that required social media platforms to register and establish a local presence.
Despite various notifications and efforts, large platforms have not applied for registration, said Rabindra Prasad Poudel of the Ministry of the Ministry.
“If a social media platform is used in Nepal, it must be regulated against illegal activities or unwanted content,” said Poudel.
Only five, including Tiktok and Viber, are formally registered and two others are in the process.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X have millions of users in Nepal with accounts for entertainment, news and companies.
Bholanath Dhungana, president of Digital Rights Nepal, said that the sudden closure shows a “controlling” approach to the government.
“This immediately affects the fundamental rights of the public,” said Dhungana.
“It is not wrong to regulate social media, but we must first have the legal infrastructure to enforce it. A sudden closure like this is control.”
Nepal has limited access to popular online platforms in the past.
Access was blocked to the telegram -reports -app in July, referring to an increase in online fraud and money laundering.
In August last year, the government raised a nine -month -old ban after the South Asia Division of the platform corresponded to comply with the Nepalese regulations.
