Nepal Bans YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X and WhatsApp, Including 26 Social Media Platforms
Kathmandu: The Nepal government has ordered the blocking of 26 social media sites including Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and X (formerly known Twitter). An order has been issued to the Telecommunication Authority in this regard. This action has been taken against those companies which had not registered under the government rules.
Gajendra Thakur, spokesperson of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Nepal, said that the ministry had given a deadline to all social media companies to register in Nepal. But widely used platforms like Facebook, X and WhatsApp have not yet started registration.
Platforms like TikTok, Viber, VTalk and Nimbuzz are currently registered in Nepal, while the case of Telegram and Global Diary is in process. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has clarified that this ban will apply throughout the country.
This decision will impose a ban on social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Reddit, Discord, Pinterest, Signal, Threads, WeChat, Quora, Tumblr and all other major social media and communication platforms like Clubhouse, Rumble, Mi Video, Mi ViKay, Line, Imo, Jalo, Soul and Hamro Patro.
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The government says that users associated with fake IDs were using these platforms to spread hatred, rumors and cyber crimes. The government believes that this step will curb cyber crime and anti-social activities and maintain peace and harmony in the society.
The Supreme Court of Nepal in an order had asked to compulsorily list online and social media platforms of domestic or foreign origin and evaluate and monitor unwanted content. After this, the cabinet had issued a 7-day ultimatum.
