Nepal’s government has moved to block 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube, after the companies missed a deadline to register in the country.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced on Thursday, September 4, 2025, that it instructed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to begin disabling access to non-registered platforms immediately.
Officials said repeated notices had been sent requiring compliance, but most platforms failed to respond.
The ban stems from a Council of Ministers decision and a Supreme Court directive, which mandated all platforms to formally register with the ministry, appoint compliance and grievance officers, and establish a local point of contact. The deadline expired at midnight on September 4.
Authorities confirmed that only a few services—such as TikTok and Viber—remain operational because they completed registration on time.
Access to the rest will be phased out by internet providers across Nepal in the coming days.
The government is also advancing a bill in parliament to expand regulation of online activity, which critics say could be used to silence dissent and restrict press freedom.
Human rights groups have voiced concern that the blanket ban risks eroding digital rights and further shrinking space for free expression.
Meanwhile, police have warned citizens against using VPNs to bypass restrictions, though reports indicate VPN usage spiked following the announcement.
Local outlets noted that while social media apps are affected, Google’s core services—including Gmail and Search—are not part of the ban.
The move has triggered widespread debate across Nepal’s political and civil society spheres, with some backing the state’s push for accountability while others warn of a digital clampdown unprecedented in the country’s democratic history.