South Asian country blocks major social media platforms
Nepal has blocked dozens of major social media platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Reddit, after they failed to comply with national registration rules. The move echoes a global trend of governments tightening oversight of Big Tech.
The ban follows directives issued in 2023 by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, which require all networks to register before operating in the South Asian country. The Supreme Court recently backed the measure, telling the government to ensure both foreign and domestic platforms are officially listed so their content can be monitored.
The government says the rules are meant to curb fake accounts, hate speech, and cybercrime in a country where nine in ten people use the internet. Platforms were given a week from August 28 to apply, but the deadline passed on Wednesday night without any of the major global players – including Meta, Alphabet, X, Reddit, and LinkedIn – submitting applications.
A total of 26 platforms that ignored the directives have now been blocked. According to local media reports, TikTok, Viber, and several smaller apps did register, while Telegram and Global Diary are still waiting for approval.
“Except for the five listed platforms and two in the process, all others will be deactivated inside Nepal,” ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur said, adding that any platform completing registration would be reopened the same day.
The decision has stirred anger online, with social media users calling it regressive in the digital era and warning it risks cutting millions off from services they rely on daily.
Around the world, governments from the US and EU to Brazil and Australia are moving to tighten control of social media, citing fears of fake news, data misuse, and security risks. Last month, Russia’s media watchdog restricted voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, citing their use in scams, extortion, and recruitment for sabotage and terrorist activity.
