Govt issues public notice calling social media for registration

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug.30: The government has issued a public notice requiring all social media platforms operating in the country to complete mandatory registration within the next seven days. 

The notice, published on Thursday by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, calls on both domestic and international platforms that have yet to register to contact the ministry within the stipulated timeframe.

The move follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which, while hearing a contempt of court case, had ordered the government to ensure that no social media platform operates in Nepal without formal registration. In compliance, the Cabinet decided on August 25 to issue the notice.

According to the ministry, companies or individuals seeking to operate social media platforms must apply under the Social Media Usage Regulation Directive-2023. Applications must follow the format outlined in Schedule 1 and be accompanied by the required documents.

Furthermore, the directive mandates that platforms designate a local contact point, an officer to handle user complaints within Nepal, and an official responsible for overseeing compliance with self-regulation measures.

The ministry has also clarified that platforms failing to register or establish contact within the deadline will be gradually deactivated inside Nepal. Once registration is completed, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority will have the authority to restore their services.