सामाजिक सञ्जाल नियमन पारदर्शी, अधिकारमैत्री र सहभागीमूलक प्रक्रियामार्फत अघि बढाउन सरकार र सरोकारवालाप्रति नागरिक समाजको आग्रह- प्रेस विज्ञप्ति

As the Government of Nepal’s seven-day grace period for major social media platforms to comply with national regulations approaches its end, civil society organizations are voicing serious concerns about the government’s approach to digital governance. Under the Directives for Managing the Use of Social Networks, 2023, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and X are required to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, appoint liaison officers in Nepal, and implement systems for handling user complaints and content moderation. To date, only TikTok, Viber, S.a.r.L., and Sarans Media Pvt. Ltd (Weetok) have complied. The government has warned that non-compliance could result in bans and is conducting an impact assessment to evaluate the potential consequences. Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung has stated that the intent is not to impose immediate restrictions, but to enforce accountability and promote a safe digital environment.
In response, Digital Rights Nepal convened a coalition of 31 civil society organizations, digital rights advocates, and media groups to release a joint public statement urging the government to:

• Refrain from actions that violate constitutional rights or Nepal’s international human rights obligations;
• Ensure that any regulation of digital platforms is transparent, inclusive, and rooted in democratic principles;
• Initiate meaningful dialogue with civil society, platform representatives, and technical experts before taking enforcement actions.

For Detailed press release in Nepali: Click here