Regulation

Nepal lifts block on social media sites 

Nepal lifts block on social media sites 

UPDATE: The BBC has reported that Nepal has lifted a social media ban, which sparked protests and led to clashes with police that left at least 19 people dead and injured more than 100 others.

The government of Nepal had reportedly blocked a number of popular social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, WeChat, Reddit and YouTube, due to non-compliance with a new law requiring them to register with the government.

Five platforms that have registered in Nepal, including TikTok and Viber, were apparently not blocked.

The companies were given a deadline of last Wednesday to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and provide a local contact, grievance handler and person responsible for self-regulation.

The seven-day deadline for mandatory registration expired on Wednesday at midnight, after which all unregistered platforms were reportedly restricted with immediate effect.

The background to this is a recent Nepalese government directive forcing social media companies to ensure their platforms are well-managed, responsible and accountable.

The government has said the bill is an effort to curb online hate, rumours and cybercrime.

However, the BBC news website notes that in the weeks before the ban, a "nepo kid" campaign, spotlighting the lavish lifestyles of politicians' children and allegations of corruption, had taken off on social media.

The bill has been criticised as a tool for censorship, notably by The Federation of Nepali Journalists, The National Human Rights Commission and 22 other civil organisations working for freedom of expression and right to information. A number of opposition parties and individual leaders of the country's ruling parties have also expressed their concern, as has the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

Regulator the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) published a list of 26 platforms to be shut down. It includes Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, X, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Reddit, Discord, Pinterest, Signal, Threads, WeChat, Quora, Tumblr, Clubhouse, Mastodon, Rumble, VK, Line, IMO, Zalo, Soul and Hamro Patro.

However, according to local news resource the Kathmandu Times, within 24 hours of the government’s decision to shut down unregistered social media platforms, Hamro Patro, a Nepali social media app, and X had made efforts to register. It also suggested that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, had been in touch with Nepali officials.

State-owned operator Nepal Telecom has already informed customers that the listed platforms have been removed from its services. Private operator Ncell has also begun blocking access.

However, Ncell has warned that 50%of its internet traffic comes from social media platforms and that shutting them down would severely hurt business as was the case when the government banned TikTok in August 2024 (the ban was lifted by the end of the year).

And it’s not just a problem for operators. Online sellers have been shifting their business activity to usable platforms to stay afloat. In fact the timing of the ban, ahead of Nepal’s biggest festive season, has alarmed small business owners. The ban, however, is now on hold, so, presumably, it's business as usual for online sellers - at least for now.

Social media dominates internet use in Nepal, accounting for nearly 80% of total traffic.



More Articles you may be Interested in...