Nepal Enforces New Social Media Regulations, Demands Meta Registration

The Government of Nepal has set April 20, 2025, as the final deadline for all social media companies to register and adhere to the nation's newly introduced regulations. According to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, any platform that does not comply will be prohibited from operating within the country.

Meta, one of the largest social media entities, has responded by dispatching a team from its Singapore office to Kathmandu. The delegation includes Ruzan Sarwar, the Public Policy Manager for the Asia-Pacific region, who is scheduled to meet with Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung. This meeting follows multiple requests from the ministry, and officials hope Meta's registration will serve as a model for other companies.

Nepal's 2023 directive mandates that platforms register with the ministry, designate a local contact person, and appoint officers to handle grievances and oversight. Additionally, companies must cooperate with any investigations and follow Nepali laws. To date, only TikTok, Viber, and WeChat have fulfilled these requirements. Major services such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, YouTube, Google, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Threads, and X have yet to register.

The government has stressed that failure to register will result in a ban, emphasizing that this policy is part of a broader strategy to regulate online activities and ensure accountability. However, the Asia Internet Coalition has criticized these rules, arguing that they are impractical and deviate from global standards. Meanwhile, a draft bill currently under parliamentary review could transform the directive into enforceable law, introducing fines and potential bans for non-compliant platforms.