The government has registered a social media bill in the parliament with the provision that any company, firm or organization that wants to operate any social media platform in Nepal must obtain a mandatory permit (license). In the 'Bill to regulate the operation, use and regulation of social networks', which was submitted for registration in the National Assembly on Monday, a condition has been proposed to allow the platform to be operated only with a license.

It is mentioned in the bill that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, Viber, YouTube, and LinkedIn, which are currently operating, should also obtain a permit within three months of the implementation of the law. In Section 9 of Chapter-2, it has been proposed that platforms that have not received a license or whose license has been canceled will be banned from operating in Nepal. Along with this, it is said in the bill that platforms that do not follow the conditions of social media operation or are in the process of revoking the license can also be banned from operating in Nepal. 

"In order to stop the operation of such a platform, the Department of Information Technology will have to send a written message to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority," the bill says, "the authority will have to instruct the internet service provider to stop the operation of such a platform." In the

bill, social media companies must submit company, firm or organization registration certificate, memorandum and articles of association, copy of permanent account number certificate, if foreign investors have invested shares, details of management committee, privacy policy, data use policy (data There is a provision to apply to the department by attaching documents including usage policy), data security policy. They have to renew their license every two years. Provisions have been proposed to apply for the renewal of the permit 15 days before the expiry of the period, along with the fee, and if the social network operating outside Nepal does not arrange a contact point in Nepal, the permit will be revoked .

In Nepal, just like internet service providers and telecommunication companies or hydropower projects, permission letter has to be obtained from the government to operate a social network company. Sections 3 to 9 under paragraph-2 of the bill include provisions such as obtaining a permit, period and renewal of the permit, and cancellation of the permit.

Earlier, the government had issued the 'Guidelines for Regulating the Use of Social Networks, 2080' and asked the platforms to be listed under the Ministry of Communication . So far only three platforms have been listed.

The government has repeatedly requested platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Meta and X, LinkedIn, which have the most users in Nepal, to be listed. Now it seems that the government is preparing to make a law and force them to take a permit. Experts have been expressing doubt that big tech companies like Meta, X will come to take the license. Their question is whether Facebook or Elon Musk's X can be closed if they don't even come to get a license, just like