KATHMANDU, Nepal: Nepal's government announced this week that it is blocking access to most major social media platforms — including Facebook, X, and YouTube — after the companies failed to comply with national regulations requiring them to register in the country formally.

Minister for Communication and Information Prithvi Subba Gurung said that about two dozen widely used platforms in Nepal had repeatedly been notified to register their businesses locally but ignored the directives. As a result, he said, the government has ordered that they be blocked with immediate effect.

Not all platforms are affected. TikTok, Viber, and three other social networking services will continue to operate in Nepal because they have completed the registration process. Authorities have also asked registered platforms to appoint a liaison office or representative in the country to serve as a point of contact for regulatory matters.

The decision comes alongside a proposed new law that seeks to tighten government oversight of online platforms. The bill, which has been introduced in parliament but not yet fully debated, would require social networks to be properly managed, monitored, and held accountable for content published or shared on their sites.

Critics, however, see the move as a dangerous step toward censorship. Rights groups have denounced the bill as an attempt to stifle dissent, curb freedom of expression, and punish government opponents who use social media to protest.

Officials have defended the legislation, arguing that new rules are necessary to monitor online spaces and ensure that both companies and users are responsible for the material they circulate.