Nepal’s government is blocking commonly used social platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, WeChat, Reddit and YouTube, for not complying with the new law, requiring them to register with the government Associated Press Report. Five platforms including Tiktok and Viber registered in the country have exempted the ban.
Social media companies are asked to provide local contacts, complaint handlers and people responsible for self-regulation to avoid closures, many obviously did not. Ministry spokesman Gajendra Kumar Thakur told French agent.
The Nepal government recently introduced a directive that forces social media companies to ensure their platforms are well managed, responsible and responsible. The government said the bill was intended to curb online hatred, rumors and cybercrime. However, opponents have widely criticized it as a tool of censorship, which some groups call an infringement of citizens’ fundamental rights.
Digital Rights Nepal President Bhola Nath Dhungana said: “It is not wrong to regulate social media, but we need to have the legal infrastructure to enforce it first. Another group, Nepal Press Federation explain The measure “destroys the freedom of the press and the right to information of citizens.” The New York-based committee to protect journalists also expressed opposition.
Nepal is the latest government to tighten social media oversight, and countries including the United States, Europe and Brazil have recently done so to varying degrees. Nepal’s neighbor India also has Require Local compliance personnel and revocation mechanisms (even Threat to prison Twitter staff once).
