KATHMANDU, Sept 5: Following the government’s decision to deactivate unregistered social media platforms in Nepal, companies have begun reaching out to the authorities one after another seeking registration.
On Thursday, the government announced the shutdown of 26 platforms in Nepal, including Facebook and other Meta platforms. Within hours, Meta representatives contacted the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to seek details about the registration process.
According to ministry sources, X (formerly Twitter), owned solely by American billionaire Elon Musk, has also approached the Nepal government regarding the registration process. Earlier, internet service providers had started blocking access in compliance with the government’s directive, leaving many users unable to access social media platforms.
Based on directives from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, a Supreme Court order, a Cabinet decision, and a ministerial-level decision of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, platforms including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp have been restricted in Nepal.