Nepal’s Sweeping Social Media Ban: Digital Rights and Democracy at Risk
On 4 September 2025, the Government of Nepal (GoN) enforced a nationwide ban on unregistered social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X, Reddit, and LinkedIn.
The Directive for managing the use of social networks 2023, first introduced in November 2023, requires social media platforms to register locally and appoint representatives in Nepal. Since then, MoCIT issued several notices between 2023-25, repeatedly warning of punitive measures for non-compliance. The final ultimatum issued in late August 2025 ultimately triggered the ban.
This sweeping action raises serious concerns. It silences citizens’ voices, undermines freedom of expression, restricts access to information and civic participation, disrupts businesses and startups, and hinders content creators who rely on social media for their livelihoods. Civil society organizations have strongly criticized the government’s move, warning that it shrinks civic space, threatens freedom of expression and press freedom, disrupts digital entrepreneurship, and deprives citizens of their fundamental right to information. At least five writ petition has been received in supreme court against government decision to block unregistered social media platforms.
Critics further warn that the ban could cause severe disruption to communication, commerce, and daily life in Nepal, given the central role of platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube. The government, however, maintains that stricter regulation is necessary to curb harmful content and ensure accountability from global technology companies operating in the country.
Digital Rights Nepal unequivocally condemns this regressive measure. Social media is not merely a space for entertainment, it is a vital platform where citizens express themselves, learn, organize, and sustain their livelihoods. We call on the Government of Nepal to immediately reverse this ban and instead pursue rights-based, transparent, and democratic approaches to digital governance. The internet must remain free, open, and accessible to all Nepalis.
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Govt Approves API Linkage for Unified Non-Profit Organization Record System
The Ministry of Home Affairs has received cabinet approval to link its NPO public portal with the National Identity Card and Registration Department through an API. This integration will provide necessary data to operate software designed to maintain a unified record of non-profit organizations in Nepal, according to Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithivi Subba Gurung.
The government’s decision to link the NPO public portal with the National Identity Card and Registration Department through an API raises serious human rights concerns. By aggregating sensitive personal and organizational data, the move threatens the right to privacy and exposes individuals to potential misuse or surveillance. It also risks undermining the freedom of association, as non-profit organizations may face heightened scrutiny or administrative control. Without clear safeguards, transparency, and consent mechanisms, this integration could violate principles of data protection, accountability, and security, placing both organizations and their stakeholders at risk. Such a sweeping measure, implemented without robust human rights safeguards, prioritizes administrative convenience over fundamental freedoms. Nepal SC Orders Ban on Unauthorized Online Ads and OTT
The Supreme Court has issued a mandamus directing a ban on content broadcast with advertisements through social media, OTT apps, and other platforms without registration. The joint bench of Justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Shanti Shing Thapa delivered the order on September 4, 2025, in response to writs filed by advocate B.P. Gautam, who had first petitioned in December 2020 against uninterrupted foreign advertisements on online platforms, including YouTube and OTT services. Meta Enables Facebook Monetization in Nepal
Meta has officially added Nepal to its list of eligible countries for Facebook content monetization, effective from Monday. Nepali creators can now earn directly from Facebook by enabling professional mode on their pages or profiles. The feature allows income through ads placed on content such as videos, reels, and posts, with earnings based on engagement. Payments will now be made directly to Nepali bank accounts, removing the need for foreign channels and potentially boosting remittances and government tax revenue.
Social Media Ban Could Push Internet Costs Up Fivefold
Stakeholders warn that government restrictions on social media may drive internet costs up to five times higher. As seen during the TikTok ban, users turn to VPNs and open DNS, which shifts traffic from local servers to international bandwidth, creating heavy pressure on service providers. This forces them to import costly international bandwidth, making current social media data packages ineffective and raising overall internet prices. Telecom operators and ISPs caution that such restrictions could significantly impact both customers and providers.
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Digital Rights Weekly is a week-based update on Digital Rights and ICT issues, that happened throughout the week, compiled and analyzed from the digital rights perspective by Digital Rights Nepal (DRN). DRN is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to the protection and promotion of digital rights, including the right to online freedom of expression and association, online privacy, access to information, and related issues such as internet governance, cyber laws/policies, and cyber securities in Nepal.
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| This publication has been produced with financial support from Norway. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Digital Rights Nepal and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway. |
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