We will shut Meta if it fails to register within a week: Minister Gurung

Kathmandu, April 25: Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has said Meta's access to Nepal will be disrupted if the company is not officially registered here. 

During his participation in a department-level interaction on the right to information organised by the National Information Commission here today, the Minister said the Meta, the mother company of various social platforms such as Facebook, Messenger and Instagram did not hear the government's letter for officially getting registered in Nepal. "Of it fails to ensure the registration within a week, it will be shut," he warned. 

According to the Minister, it is not ethnical to have unwillingness to follow the laws of the respective country when the company is doing its business.   

As he said, efforts are underway from the Ministry's secretary level to make the Meta fix its center for Nepal. 

It may be noted that some social platforms: TikTok and Viber have been officially registered in Nepal. 

The Minister has urged other such sites for the registration, adding that it will help systematise the social sites, making them accountable and responsible towards the society.    

On the occasion, he informed that the Bill relating to the operation of social sites is in the course of getting an endorsement from the parliament. 

He argued that any efforts capable of jeopardizing social goodwill, promoting offences, encroaching on personal life and attacking on national integrity and independence in the name of freedom are to be regulated. The Bill aims to ensure the systematic operations of social sites.

Terming the Right to information as an instrument to promote the citizen's fundamental rights including the good governance, he said the Commission should further deliver effectively for its protection.  

He also insisted on the need of preventing the misuse of information provided upon the demand. 

NIC Chief Dr Suresh Prasad Acharya said the RTI, transparency and good governance are the pillars of democracy and the providers and seekers are equal partners of it. 

He urged employees and department chiefs to be free from the 'mindset' that the disclosure of information of public interests will cause a backfire.  

Information Commissioner Gagan Bista they public entities are not supposed to seek an excuse to impart information of public interests. 

Another Information Officer Durga Bhandari urged information officer to not have a rigid mentality in terms disclosing information of public interests and make this happen in a convenient atmosphere. (RSS)