President Ramchandra Paudel has said that the use of social media will be effectively regulated to make it dignified, safe and orderly. Presenting the government's policy and program for the next financial year at the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament, he said that the operation and use of social media will be regulated.
"In order to promote social harmony, cultural tolerance and good governance, the operation and use of social networks will be effectively implemented to make them dignified, safe and orderly," said President Paudel.
Earlier, the "Bill Draft 2080 on the Use and Regulation of Social Networks" formulated by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has been registered in the National Assembly of the Parliament. Some provisions of the bill were criticized as violating citizens' freedom of expression, right to information and right to privacy. The
bill was criticized for its vague prohibition on content, provisions on criminal defamation, the process for removing content and the criminalization of anonymous identities. According to the
bill, it has been proposed that any company, firm or organization that wants to operate a social media platform should obtain a mandatory permit. It is mentioned in the draft that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, Viber, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc., which are currently operating, must obtain a permit within three months of the implementation of the law. It is mentioned in the bill that one should be listed in the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to get a license.
Currently, the government is pushing social media platforms, including Meta, which have significant users in Nepal, to be listed. Communications Minister Prithvisubba Gurung has warned that it will be closed if it is not listed.
