Nepal blocks 26 social media platforms in historic crackdown

The Nepali government on Thursday instituted a widespread block on major social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), restricting access to 26 platforms across the country. The decision, enforced by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority ( NTA ), follows the platforms’ failure to comply with the directive requiring registration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology within three months.

The directive, issued under the 2023 Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, required platforms to establish a local liaison office, appoint a grievance officer, and implement self-regulation mechanisms. The deadline for compliance, set on August 28, expired on September 3, prompting the government’s decisive action.