Nepal Bans Social Media Apps Citing Fake Accounts and Cybercrime

Nepal has blocked major social media platforms after they failed to comply with a government rule requiring registration.

Officials said fake accounts were being used to spread hate, rumours, and cybercrime, disturbing social harmony in a country where 90% of the 30 million population use the internet.

Companies were given until Wednesday to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, appoint a local contact and grievance handler, or face shutdown.

According to a Reuters report, a government notice directed the Telecommunications Authority to deactivate unregistered platforms without naming them, but officials confirmed that TikTok, Viber, WeTalk, Nimbuzz, and Poppo Live had complied, while Meta has not.

"We gave them enough time to register and repeatedly requested them to comply with our request," Communications and IT minister Prithvi Subba Gurung said of those platforms facing shutdown. "But they ignored and we had to shut their operations in Nepal."

Critics argue the move could stifle free expression, but regulators insist stricter rules are needed to protect users and maintain social order.