The Nepal government’s ban on 26 social media platforms on September 4, 2024, came after many major platforms failed to register with the government under a new directive. This action sparked protests by the country’s youth against corruption and the social media ban. The demonstrations turned violent, resulting in 19 casualties and dozens of injuries. In the aftermath, the ban was revoked, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned.

However, the initial ban came against the backdrop of a more permanent change to the country’s digital ecosystem, the Social Media Bill tabled in the Nepali Parliament earlier this year.

The legislation compels social media platforms to obtain and renew a government licence to operate within the country. It also mandates user identity verification, requiring companies to authenticate every user’s real identity. The Department is empowered to issue directives ordering content removal for vague reasons such as violating “social disharmony” or “sovereignty,” effectively enabling censorship.

Additionally, companies must establish local representatives, manage a complaint mechanism, and ensure no illegal content is hosted on their platforms, or face penalties and bans. In doing so, the bill effectively removes safe harbour protections.

To discuss the impact of this bill on social media in Nepal, MediaNama invites you to attend a virtual discussion on “Understanding Nepal’s Social Media Ban.”

Register here

In this MediaNama Briefing, we will delve into why the social media ban happened in Nepal, as well as understand the bill permanently formalising the provisions that can lead to such bans and major restrictions on social media in the country in the future. 

Title: Understanding Nepal’s Social Media Ban

Date: 12 September (Friday), 2025

Time: 3:30 PM IST

What will we cover?

• The background of the recent social media ban in Nepal
• The provisions of Nepal’s Social Media Bill, including mandatory licensing, user identity verification, and censorship of posts
• Provisions penalising user behaviour, and the impact of the bill on free speech and access to information in the country

The session will begin at 3:30 PM IST with a presentation, followed by a Q&A session in which attendees can ask questions and debate key issues.

In case you know someone who might be interested, please share this post with them.

Please register to participate in the event by filling out the form here.

Note:

• Registration does not guarantee attendance. In case you fit our mandate for the intended audience, we’ll send you a confirmation before the event.
• Your contact information will never be shared with anyone outside of MediaNama.