Nepal pushes Meta to register under new social media rules

The Government of Nepal has given today, April 20, as the final deadline for social media companies to register and comply with new regulations. Platforms that fail to register will not be allowed to operate in the country, according to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

Nepal social media regulation Overview

Meta Sends Delegation to Kathmandu

Meta has sent representatives from its Singapore office to Kathmandu. This includes Ruzan Sarwar, Public Policy Manager for Asia-Pacific. They are scheduled to meet Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung.

Pressure from the Government

According to the Minister’s aide, Meta agreed to the meeting after repeated requests. The ministry believes Meta’s registration would set an example for other companies. Nepal’s 2023 directive requires platforms to register with the ministry, appoint a local contact point, and assign grievance and oversight officers. Platforms must also cooperate with investigations and comply with Nepali law.

Other Platforms Still Not Registered

So far, only TikTok, Viber, and WeChat have completed registration. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, YouTube, Google, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Threads, and X remain unregistered.

The government has made it clear that platforms that fail to register will be banned. This decision is part of the broader effort to regulate online activity and ensure accountability.

Criticism from Industry Group

The Asia Internet Coalition has criticized the directive. It called the rules impractical and said they do not align with international standards. Meanwhile, a draft bill is being reviewed in parliament. If passed, it will make the directive legally binding. It also proposes penalties and platform bans for non-compliance.