The government’s recent notice requiring social media platforms to register within a week marks a significant step towards strengthening digital governance in Nepal. Facebook and X are among the platforms instructed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to comply with the registration plan or face blocking. This move follows the Social Media Use Management Directive, 2080 BS, and a Supreme Court order, both aimed at ensuring accountability and responsibility among social media companies operating in the country. Under the directive, platforms must appoint local contacts, complaint-handling officers, and compliance officers to facilitate communication with Nepali authorities. Registration will not only bring companies in line with the law but also help them build stronger relationships with Nepali users. Compliance ensures uninterrupted business, more effective rule enforcement, and a degree of safety and recourse for users. Additionally, registration allows the government to tax revenues earned from Nepali users, ensuring fair economic benefits for the country. So far, major players such as Meta have remained unresponsive to the government’s call. By enforcing registration, Nepal is asserting its digital sovereignty.
Two-day Huawei Digital Nepal Conclave 2022
Social media provides enormous benefits: it connects people across distances, enables business growth, and promotes free expression. Small businesses can reach wider markets, students can access information instantly, and citizens can actively participate in public discourse. However, unregulated platforms also bring risks—fake news spreads quickly, online abuse goes unchecked, and scams proliferate. Institutions such as schools, banks, and government agencies may face reputational harm or operational disruptions if online spaces remain unregulated. For governments, the absence of regulation reduces tax revenues and weakens their ability to act swiftly when problems arise. Proper registration can address these challenges without diminishing the benefits. Platforms that comply will be legally accountable, simplifying content moderation, complaint handling, and law enforcement. Users will feel more secure with local contacts to rely on, while companies will operate within a clear framework. Governments, in turn, will be able to balance freedom of expression with public safety and collect taxes equitably.
The government’s ability to legitimately control and regulate the digital space within its territory is also critical for national security. When social media platforms shape public opinion and drive commerce without legal safeguards, they pose threats to national well-being. Registration is not about blocking platforms but about ensuring they act responsibly. The government’s decision to enforce registration is both timely and necessary. Social media companies are expected to respond within the deadline, as allowing unregistered platforms to operate risks user protection, economic fairness, and effective law enforcement. Ultimately, registering multiple social media platforms is the most viable way to guarantee user safety, corporate accountability, and fair economic gains, while advancing Nepal’s digital governance.
