Nepal bans X, Insta & FB: Action after SC order; ‘non-compliance’ cited as reason

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Nepal has ordered a ban on 26 social media platforms, together with Facebook, Instagram and X, after they did not register with the federal government inside a seven-day deadline. The choice comes consistent with a Supreme Court directive and a ministerial assembly held on Thursday that included Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, ministry officers, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, telecom operators and web service suppliers. According to officers, restrictions will apply nationwide with quick impact, and the ministry has begun issuing letters to the involved firms. The authorities had earlier warned that non-compliant platforms would face suspension. While Viber, TikTok, Wetalk and Nimbuzz are registered, and Telegram and Global Diary are within the course of, main platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (X), WhatsApp, Reddit, LinkedIn and YouTube have but to provoke registration. Officials mentioned companies could resume as soon as platforms full the registration course of and adjust to nationwide guidelines. “The Honourable Supreme Court, in a contempt of court case (Case No. 080-8-0012), has issued a directive order in the name of the Government of Nepal to mandatorily list domestic or foreign-origin online and social media platforms with the relevant authorities before operation and to evaluate and monitor unwanted content. In accordance with the decision of the Government of Nepal (Council of Ministers) dated 2082.05.09, for the implementation of the said order, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has published a public notice on 2082.05.12, giving a deadline of seven (7) days to list social media platforms as per the ‘Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2080’. All stakeholders are hereby informed that the Nepal Telecommunication Authority has been directed to deactivate social media platforms within Nepal that have not contacted the Ministry for listing within the specified time limit and to reactivate them from the same moment if they are listed,” a discover issued by the ministry reads. The ministry added that every one different main social media and communication platforms, together with Messenger, Snapchat, Discord, Pinterest, Signal, Threads, WeChat, Quora, Tumblr, Clubhouse, Rumble, Mi Video, Mi Vike, Line, Imo, Jalo, Sol and Hamro Patro, can even be blocked till they full registration. The Supreme Court issued its mandamus order on Wednesday, almost 5 years after writ petitions have been filed in search of restrictions on commercials and content material broadcast by way of unlicensed social media platforms, OTT apps and web browsers. A joint bench of Justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Shanti Singh Thapa heard three petitions collectively and dominated in favour of the petitioners. In December 2020, advocates B.P. Gautam and Anita Bajgain had filed writs demanding a ban on unrestricted broadcasts, together with overseas commercials, via social media. Manoj Gurung, General Secretary of the Nepal Cable Television Federation, filed an identical petition. The courtroom consolidated the circumstances earlier than issuing the mandamus, directing that unlicensed platforms should cease broadcasting commercials and content material with out authorized approval. Government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung advised the National Assembly on August 19 that Meta, the mum or dad firm of Facebook, was repeatedly urged to register in Nepal however responded that it was not able to adjust to Nepal’s legal guidelines and structure. According to the ministry’s discover, operational platforms should register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, designate contact factors in Nepal, appoint officers to deal with native complaints and assign compliance monitoring officers.