Nepal Government Blocks Unlisted Social Media

Kathmandu – The Government of Nepal has initiated a nationwide block on unlisted social media platforms effective immediately, raising widespread attention about which networks will remain accessible in the country.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has confirmed that five platforms—TikTok, Viber, Nimbuzz, VTech, and Opolive—have been officially listed and will continue to operate legally in Nepal. Additionally, Telegram and Global Link are currently undergoing the registration process.

In a recent meeting chaired by Minister for Communications Prithvi Subba Gurung, a decision was made to shut down all social media sites that have not complied with the government’s listing mandate, notably including Facebook.

This enforcement follows an order from the Supreme Court, and the Ministry issued an official notice clarifying that all unregistered platforms are being blocked nationwide. However, the government has assured that any platform that completes the listing process will be reopened.

The directive stems from a cabinet decision on September 9, 2020, which required all social media companies operating in Nepal to register within a one-week deadline. That deadline expired recently, prompting the Ministry of Communications to take action to halt unlisted social media operations.

According to ministry sources, the list of blocked platforms is based on the Nepal Telecommunication Authority’s monitoring of networks used across the country.This move has sparked significant debate about internet freedom, social media regulation, and digital rights within Nepal.