The Nepal government has blocked 26 popular social media platforms—including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X—after they failed to register under new national regulations.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to suspend all unregistered platforms immediately. The move follows a seven-day deadline that expired on Wednesday night, after which authorities acted without delay.
A high-level meeting chaired by Communications and IT Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, alongside telecom operators, ISPs, and the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, sealed the decision. Officials confirmed that restrictions are being enforced nationwide and notices have already been sent to the companies involved.
While the government defends the ban as necessary for regulatory compliance, activists accuse the Oli-led administration of attempting to stifle dissent. They argue the mandatory registration rules are intrusive, impractical, and a threat to digital freedom in Nepal.
