Nepal Nets Noncompliant Networks Including Facebook
The Nepalese government has announced that unregistered social media platforms, including Facebook, will be blocked across the country, Reuters reported.
Authorities cited rising incidents of hate speech via fake IDs, rumor-mongering, cybercrime, and disruption of social harmony. Nearly 90 percent of Nepal’s roughly 30 million population are internet users.
Officials stated that the registration deadline expired on Wednesday. Platforms that failed to register by appointing local representatives, complaint resolution officers, and self-regulatory personnel have been instructed to cease operations by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority.
The government noted that TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbaas, and Popo Live have completed registration, but Facebook and others have not. Meta has not commented on the matter.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung said, "We gave sufficient time and made repeated requests, but they ignored them. Therefore, we were compelled to take action."
While many countries worldwide are tightening social media regulation, critics argue that such measures threaten freedom of expression.
