Meta's Facebook will be shut down in Nepal

The Gate social media platform is scheduled to cease operations in Nepal after the company failed to register with the government.

Following the trend of increased government oversight of large technology and social media companies, Nepal has ordered the shutdown of unregistered social media platforms, among which is Gate.

Nepal orders the closure of Gate

On Thursday, Nepal announced that it would block access to several social media platforms, including Gate, after they failed to register with the authorities.

Officials indicated that companies were given a deadline to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, provide a local contact, designate a complaints officer, and appoint someone responsible for self-regulation. Platforms that did not meet these requirements by Wednesday faced the risk of being shut down.

The Ministry declared that the new regulations aim to curb the growing misuse of social media, as users spread hate, false news, and commit cyber crimes through fake accounts. About 90% of Nepal's 30 million inhabitants use the Internet, and the government argues that stricter regulations are needed to protect social harmony.

A government notification issued on Thursday instructed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to deactivate unregistered platforms.

According to an official from the Ministry of Communications, TikTok, Viber, WeTalk, Nimbuzz, and Poppo Live have completed the registration process. However, major services owned by Gate, including its social media and messaging products, did not.

The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, stated that the government gave companies ample time to comply, but was forced to take action when they refused.

“We gave them enough time to register and repeatedly asked them to comply with our request, but they ignored it and we had to close their operations in Nepal,” explained Gurung.

Global regulatory efforts

Governments around the world are ramping up their efforts to oversee large technology and social media companies. Officials from the United States, the European Union, Brazil, and Australia have pushed for new standards to address misinformation, online harm, and concerns about data privacy.

India has already introduced strict requirements for foreign tech companies, including the appointment of local compliance officers and the establishment of systems for the removal of harmful content. China also imposes strict controls, with mandatory licensing requirements and heavy censorship of online platforms.

Critics of these measures argue that they can restrict free expression and give governments excessive control over online spaces. Human rights groups often warn that shutting down platforms can silence political dissent or limit open debate.

In Nepal, Manish Jha, spokesperson for the Independent National Party, stated that regulation should focus on accountability without falling into censorship.

“(Social networks) should be legally supervised, disciplined, and not allowed to become malicious, but not closed,” Jha said.

Despite these concerns, the government of Nepal insists that its actions are necessary to maintain order. Officials claim that unregistered platforms allow users to hide behind false identities and cause real harm. By requiring companies to register and designate responsible officials, authorities hope to improve accountability and cooperation in the investigation of cyber crimes.