Nepal Blocks Facebook, X, YouTube Over Registration Dispute, Critics Warn of Online Censorship
Story: written Okafor Jospeh September 11,2025
Nepal has moved to block major social media platforms including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube after the companies allegedly failed to comply with new government regulations requiring official registration.
Minister for Communication and Information, Prithvi Subba Gurung, announced on Thursday that around two dozen platforms would be shut down immediately for non-compliance, despite repeated notices to register.
Meanwhile, some platforms — such as TikTok and Viber — will remain accessible, as they have completed registration with authorities.
Push for Regulation or Tool for Censorship?
Nepal’s government has also introduced a new social media bill in parliament that seeks to establish stricter oversight, requiring companies to appoint local liaison offices and take responsibility for user-generated content. Officials argue the rules are meant to improve accountability and curb harmful content.
However, the proposal has sparked widespread backlash. Rights groups and activists say the legislation could become a powerful weapon for censorship, silencing critics and restricting freedom of expression.
“This is less about accountability and more about control,” one rights advocate warned, stressing that citizens’ fundamental rights could be at risk.
Broader Concerns Over Free Speech
The crackdown reflects a growing global trend where governments attempt to regulate online spaces, often under the pretext of combating misinformation or cybercrime. Critics argue that Nepal’s measures, if fully enforced, could limit digital freedom, stifle dissent, and undermine democracy.
While officials insist new laws are necessary to ensure responsibility from both users and platforms, civil society groups maintain that blocking access to widely used platforms will harm communication, business, and education in the country.
