The Government of Nepal, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has issued a directive regarding the operation and use of social Networking platforms. This directive was published in the Nepal Gazette, Volume 73, Part 3, No. 39, dated Mangsir 11, 2080 BS. The directive introduces mandatory provisions for the registration of social Networking platform and sets out detailed restrictions on user activities to maintain social harmony, prevent misuse, and ensure lawful online engagement.
Similarly, Government of Nepal, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has published the public notice on 29 August 2025 stating that the directive order of the Supreme Court (Case No. 080-CF-0012) and the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 26 August 2025, all social networking and online platforms, domestic or foreign, must be registered with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology prior to operation in Nepal. Accordingly, the following provisions are notified:
- Existing Platforms: All unregistered platforms currently operating in Nepal must complete registration within seven (7) days of this notice and appoint a Point of Contact, a Resident Grievance Handling Officer, and a Compliance Officer within Nepal.
- Non-Compliance: Platforms failing to register within the prescribed period shall be progressively deactivated. Registered platforms will be reactivated immediately upon completion of the process.
- New Platforms: Any individual, company, or institution wishing to operate a social Networking platform in Nepal must apply for registration in the format prescribed under the Directives on Regulating the Use of Social Networking, 2080, along with the required documents.
Social Networking Platform Listing (Section 3)
According to Section 3 of the Directive, the following provisions apply to persons, companies, or organizations operating social Networking Platform:
- Any entity wishing to operate a social Networking platform must register with the Ministry.
- The Ministry shall publish a public notice for the purpose of such registration.
- Platforms already in operation prior to the commencement of the Directive must complete registration within three months from the date of its enforcement.
- Applications for registration must be submitted in the prescribed format (Schedule-1), along with required documents. However, this requirement does not apply to platforms that are already in operation.
- Registered platforms are required to update their details every three years by submitting an application in the prescribed format (Schedule-3).
- The Ministry, upon necessary inquiry, will update and maintain such records.
Restrictions on Social Networking Users (Section 4)
The Directive also provides a clear list of activities that social Networking users must not do or cause to be done, in order to safeguard individual dignity, community harmony, and public order. Prohibited activities include:
- Creating or operating fake/anonymous IDs, pages, or groups.
- Producing, sharing, or commenting through such fake identities.
- Publishing or sharing materials that defame individuals or communities based on caste, gender, religion, ethnicity, profession, or other protected grounds.
- Sharing content that promotes child labor, human trafficking, polygamy, child marriage, caste-based untouchability, or other unlawful practices.
- Engaging in hate speech or using offensive words, images, videos, or trolling with the intention to humiliate or spread hatred.
- Misusing digital Networking to distort personal images (e.g., montages, animations) or sharing private photos/videos without consent.
- Publishing obscene materials, content related to child sexual exploitation, abuse, or prostitution.
- Spreading false, misleading, or distorted information and propaganda.
- Engaging in cyberbullying, defined as harassing, threatening, abusing, or spreading false information through technology.
- Encouraging or promoting drug use, gambling, terrorism, or illegal trade of prohibited goods.
- Engaging in hacking, phishing, identity theft, or impostering.
- Advertising or sharing activities prohibited by prevailing laws.
Classification of Social Networking Platform and Complaint Management in Nepal
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, also introduces detailed provisions regarding the classification of platforms, complaint management mechanisms, responsibilities of contact points, and duties of social Networking operators.
1. Classification of Social Networking Platform (Section 5)
According to Section 5, social Networking Platform operating in Nepal are classified based on the number of users:
- Small Social Networking Platform – Platforms with fewer than 100,000 users.
- Large Social Networking Platform – Platforms with more than 100,000 users.
Additional obligations apply to large social Networking Platform, including the requirement to appoint:
- A Resident Grievance Redressal Officer, and
- A Self-Regulatory Compliance Monitoring Officer.
In case of any change in address or change of the designated officers, the platform must notify the Social Networking Management Unit.
2. Provision of Point of Contact (Section 6)
To effectively address complaints relating to the misuse of social networking:
- Social Networking platform operators must establish a point of contact within Nepal.
- Platforms without an office in Nepal at the time of commencement of the Directive must set up an office or designate a contact person within three months.
3. Responsibilities of the Point of Contact (Section 7)
The designated Point of Contact has the following key responsibilities:
- To identify content on social Networking that violates the Directive.
- To inform the Social Networking Management Unit and relevant authorities, and ensure such content is either made inactive for a certain period or permanently removed.
- To provide public awareness and information regarding the safe and proper use of social networking.
4. Responsibilities of Social Networking Platform Operators (Section 8)
Social Networking platform operators bear significant responsibilities to ensure lawful and safe usage. These include:
(a) Developing algorithms and preventive measures to restrict the transmission of unlawful or prohibited content, advertisements, or materials.
(b) If a complaint is received under Section 4 regarding prohibited materials, the platform must identify and remove such content within 24 hours.
(c) If the Social Networking Management Unit or another competent authority directs removal of content deemed inappropriate, the platform must comply within 24 hours.
(d) Ensuring the confidentiality of users’ personal data, adopting necessary security standards, and refraining from making such information public or using it for unauthorized purposes.
(e) Continuously publishing or broadcasting awareness and educational content for the welfare and safety of users.
(f) Establishing mechanisms to address complaints effectively during the use of social networking.
(g) Prohibiting content that threatens Nepal’s sovereignty, geographical integrity, or social/religious harmony, or that incites disharmony.
(h) Fact-checking and verifying the authenticity of materials published on social Networking Platform.
(i) Adhering to the internationally recognized Santa Clara Principles to regulate social Networking content and ensure transparency.
(j) Ensuring that all financial transactions conducted through the operation of social Networking Platform are made via the formal banking system.
Responsibilities of Social Networking Users, Authorities, and Regulatory Bodies in Nepal
The Directive on the Operation and Use of social networking, published in the Nepal Gazette, Volume 73, Part 3, No. 39, dated Mangsir 11, 2080 BS, further sets out the responsibilities of users, the role of the Ministry, related bodies, and the Social Networking Management Unit.
1. Responsibilities of Social Networking Users (Section 9)
Under Section 9, social network users must exercise caution and responsibility when using social networking. The key provisions are:
(a) Users shall not post, share, or cause to be disseminated any material that undermines the sovereignty, national security, independence, unity, or geographical integrity of Nepal, or that disrupts relations among federal units, castes, religions, or communities.
(b) Content that promotes caste-based discrimination, untouchability, crime, obscenity, or any material prohibited under prevailing laws or contrary to public morality and ethics must not be communicated.
(c) Users must refrain from disseminating content prohibited under Section 4 of the Directive.
(d) Even indirect actions such as sharing, liking, reposting, live broadcasting, tagging, subscribing, commenting, or mentioning materials that violate sub-section (1) are also considered violations.
(e) However, users are permitted to share informational, factual, educational, study-based, and research-related materials (words, pictures, symbols, audio, or video) that are lawful and consistent with public morality and ethics.
2. Role and Responsibilities of the Ministry (Section 10)
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology bears overall responsibility for managing social Networking use. As per Section 10, its roles include:
- Coordinating among relevant bodies and stakeholders.
- Organizing awareness, capacity-building, and interaction programs on social Networking use.
- Strengthening the Social Networking Management Unit with resources.
- Conducting studies and research on the systematic use of social networking.
- Monitoring compliance with the Directive through relevant bodies.
3. Responsibilities of Relevant Bodies (Section 11)
According to Section 11, other relevant agencies and bodies must:
- Enhance the capacity of human resources deployed for complaint management.
- Designate a focal person to handle complaints from victims of social Networking misuse.
- Conduct awareness and educational programs for the welfare of users.
- Submit quarterly reports to the Ministry on complaint handling and related activities.
4. Education and Awareness Provisions (Section 12)
For the welfare and safety of social Networking users, the Social Networking Management Unit and related bodies must organize educational and awareness activities through:
- Publications and broadcasting materials,
- Official websites,
- Seminars and workshops,
- Public welfare advertisements,
- Dialogue programs.
Additionally, the Ministry may provide support, coordination, and facilitation at the provincial and local levels for such initiatives.
5. Social Networking Management Unit (Section 13)
The Directive establishes a Social Networking Management Unit within the Ministry with the following functions:
- Register complaints and ensure complainants submit evidence such as screenshots.
- Enhance the capacity of staff working within the unit.
- Convene coordination meetings with relevant bodies for regulation and systematic use.
- Promote legal provisions and good practices, and institutionalize study, research, and dialogue.
- Maintain proper records of complaints and actions.
- Immediately instruct the contact point of platforms to remove unlawful or harmful content.
- If persons holding public accountability positions violate the Directive, notify the concerned body in writing.
- If an act constitutes an offense under prevailing law, forward the matter to the appropriate enforcement authority.
6. Special Provision (Section 14)
The Directive requires that complaints related to women, children, and sexual minorities must be given priority while being addressed by contact points, relevant bodies, platforms, and the Social Networking Management Unit.
7. Directions by the Ministry (Section 15)
Under Section 15, the Ministry retains the power to issue necessary directions to social Networking operators, contact points, and relevant bodies to ensure proper management of social networking.
Recent Notice on Mandatory Registration of Social Networking Platform
- Mandatory Registration within 7 Days from 28h August 2025
- All social Networking Platform currently operating in Nepal but not yet registered are required to complete registration with the Ministry within seven (7) days from the date of publication of the notice.
- Each such platform must designate within Nepal:
- a Point of Contact,
- a Resident Grievance Handling Officer, and
- an Officer responsible for monitoring compliance with self-regulation.
- Deactivation and Reactivation
- Platforms failing to register or establish contact within the prescribed period shall be progressively deactivated within Nepal.
- Conversely, once registration is completed, the concerned platform shall be immediately reactivated.
- The Ministry has issued necessary directives to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to enforce these measures.
- New Applicants for Social Networking Operation
- Any individual, company, or institution intending to operate a social Networking platform in Nepal must submit an application for registration to the Ministry.
- Applications must follow the format prescribed in Schedule-1 of the Directives on Regulating the Use of Social Networking , 2080, accompanied by the required supporting documents.
- Designation of Officers
- In line with the Directives, every platform must designate in Nepal:
- a Point of Contact,
- a Resident Grievance Handling Officer, and
- a Compliance Monitoring Officer responsible for ensuring self-regulation.
- In line with the Directives, every platform must designate in Nepal:
This notice reinforces the legal binding force of the Directives on Regulating the Use of social networking, 2080, and marks the first strict enforcement action by the Government of Nepal following the Supreme Court’s directive order.
Conclusion
The Directives on Regulating the Use of Social Networking 2080, together with the recent public notice of 29 August 2025, reflect the Government of Nepal’s strong commitment to ensuring responsible operation and use of social Networking Platform. By mandating registration, appointing compliance officers, and clearly defining user restrictions, the framework seeks to safeguard individual dignity, protect national sovereignty, and maintain social harmony in the digital space.
The provisions also place significant responsibilities on platform operators, users, and regulatory bodies, ensuring transparency, accountability, and lawful engagement online. With the establishment of a Social Networking Management Unit, strengthened monitoring mechanisms, and priority for vulnerable groups, Nepal has taken a comprehensive step towards balancing freedom of expression with the prevention of misuse.
In essence, these measures mark a pivotal moment in Nepal’s digital governance, reinforcing the rule of law, promoting safe online practices, and laying the foundation for a more secure, ethical, and regulated social Networking environment.