Govt directs NTA to deactivate unregistered social media platforms

KATHMANDU: Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) has begun gradually deactivating all social media platforms not registered with the ministry, in line with a Supreme Court order and a Council of Ministers decision of August 25.

The ministry has instructed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), the regulatory body for telecommunications and internet service providers, to implement the directive.

A ministerial-level meeting held today decided that any platforms not registered in Nepal would be deactivated immediately.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said the measure was necessary after platforms failed to comply with repeated notifications to register in the country.

“Our aim is not to shut them down permanently, and they will be resumed as soon as they get in touch. Those already registered, and those undergoing registration, have not been closed,” he said.

Ministry Spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur confirmed that TikTok, Viber, WeTalk, Nimbuzz and Poppo Live have secured registration, while Telegram and Global Diary are in the process of registering.

A ministry study shows more than 25 social media platforms are actively used in Nepal, but it remains unclear how many will be deactivated under the latest decision.