Nepal’s government has repeatedly asked major social media platforms to register under the nation’s legal system, but most of them haven’t complied. Out of more than 40 platforms operating in Nepal, only four—Viber, TikTok, Nimbuzz, and BitTalk—are officially registered. Others like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn continue to operate without listing themselves with Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
Why They’re Not Registering
Despite public pressure and warnings, platforms haven’t ignored Nepal out of disrespect. Instead, they believe Nepal’s directives don’t align with international standards. According to the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), which represents companies like Meta and X, the current registration policy lacks legal clarity and wasn’t passed through proper parliamentary process.
Lawyer Baburam Aryal explains that these companies prefer to follow clear laws passed through the parliament rather than temporary government-issued guidelines. They’ve requested a “moratorium period,” meaning more time before being expected to register.
Privacy, Laws & Local Demands Clash
Social platforms say they’re already helping law enforcement globally, but Nepal’s demands for content removal sometimes go against global privacy laws and free speech principles. The AIC has said they cannot comply with content takedown requests that violate users’ privacy or criminalize free expression.
One key issue is Nepal’s requirement to appoint a local point of contact. The companies believe this is not practical and instead propose a 24/7 global support team. But the government expects legal accountability through a local representative, which platforms find unworkable.
Platforms are also worried about government pressure to remove content that may go against freedom of speech or their community guidelines. They argue that Nepal treats civil matters as criminal ones—something not accepted internationally.
Government Repeatedly Issued Notices
Since 2078 Mangsir 15 (December 2021), the government has published several notices asking social media platforms to register. The latest was on Chaitra 7, 2081 (March 20, 2025), giving them a 30-day window. Yet, none of the major platforms responded positively.
Even though the ministry warned that unregistered platforms could be shut down, no strict actions have been taken so far. Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung has repeatedly said platforms that don’t register within a week would face legal consequences, but enforcement remains weak.
Ministry spokesperson Gajendra Thakur says there is no decision to ban platforms yet, but legal procedures will begin against those who continue to ignore the directives. He also mentioned that they’ve contacted Meta twice via email and even held a virtual meeting with their Singapore team, but received no follow-up.