Nepal’s government has announced a ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, after they failed to comply with local regulations requiring mandatory registration within the country. The announcement was made on Thursday by Prithvi Subba Gurung, Nepal’s Minister for Communication and Information, who said the government had repeatedly instructed the most widely used social media companies to register, but they did not comply, prompting the immediate block.

While most platforms will be blocked, five platforms, including TikTok and Viber, will continue operating in Nepal as they have already met the registration requirements.

The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that all online and social media platforms, whether domestic or foreign, must register with a competent authority. The government had issued a seven-day deadline on August 28 for compliance, which expired Wednesday night.

Nepali authorities emphasized that the new regulations, supported by a pending parliamentary bill, aim to ensure accountability, proper management, and responsibility for content shared on these platforms.

However, rights groups have criticized the decision, arguing that it could be used as a tool for government censorship, restricting freedom of expression and silencing opposition voices. Government officials, on the other hand, maintain that the measures are essential for monitoring social media activities and ensuring compliance with the law.