Nepal Enforces New Social Media Rules: Registration Now Mandatory

February 4, 2025
Nepal Enforces New Social Media Rules: Registration Now Mandatory

The Nepalese government has warned that social media platforms operating without official registration will be banned. On Monday, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology issued a notice stating that social media platforms must register and assign a contact person in Nepal. If they fail to do so, they may face restrictions.

The ministry has instructed social media companies to follow the Social Media Usage Management Guidelines 2080 and complete the registration process. According to these guidelines, all social media platforms operating in Nepal must be officially registered with the ministry.

Mandatory Registration and Contact Person

Clause 3 of the guidelines states that any person, company, or organization running or planning to operate a social media platform in Nepal must register with the ministry. Additionally, Clause 6 requires every platform to appoint a local contact person in Nepal.

The government has urged all relevant individuals, companies, and organizations to complete the registration process and follow the rules. If they fail to comply, the ministry has warned that it may take action to block such social media platforms in Nepal.

Additional Responsibilities for Social Media Platforms

Apart from registration, the ministry has also outlined other responsibilities for social media companies. According to the guidelines:

  • Social media platforms should support Nepal’s tourism promotion efforts.
  • They should contribute to cybersecurity awareness and digital literacy campaigns across the country.
  • They must assist in improving education quality by promoting digital transformation in schools and colleges.

Social media platforms are required to work with government agencies to remove illegal and inappropriate content that could harm social harmony or promote cybercrime. They must also implement content filtering and moderation technologies in Nepali and other national languages.

The government has called on all stakeholders to follow these regulations and help create a safe, well-regulated, and organized digital environment in Nepal.

This warning comes at a time when the government’s new Social Media Bill has faced strong criticism in Parliament. The decision to enforce regulations through the guidelines instead of waiting for the bill’s approval is seen as a significant move.

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