Ministry directs NTA to deactivate unregistered social platforms

Kathmandu: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has begun the process of gradually deactivating all social media platforms except those registered with the ministry.

The ministry has stated that it has already instructed the regulatory body for telecommunications and internet service providers, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to that end. A ministerial level meeting held today made a decision to immediately deactivate social media platforms that have not been registered in Nepal.

The ministry has begun the process to implement the order of the Supreme Court and the decision of the Council of Ministers made on August 25.

According to Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, the compulsion to deactivate social platforms arose because the platforms have been obstinate despite the government issuing notifications repeatedly to get registered in Nepal.

‘Our aim is not to shut them forever and they will be resumed as soon as they get in touch. Those ones that are already registered and the ones in the process of registration have not been closed,’ he said.

The spokesperson of the ministry, Gajendra Kumar Thakur, said that TikTok, Viber, Wetalk, Nimbuzz, and Poppo Live have been registered so far, and that Telegram and Global Diary are in the process of being registered.

According to a study conducted by the ministry, there are currently more than 25 social media platforms actively used in Nepal, he said, but it is uncertain how many will be closed after the ministry’s latest decision.