Kathmandu — Bishnu Rimal, chief political advisor to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, has said that social media platforms which fail to register in Nepal may soon be deactivated.
Posting on Facebook on Thursday, Rimal — who also serves as CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary — noted that the move follows a directive from the Supreme Court. The court has ordered that platforms without a local point of contact, a self-regulation system, and a complaint-handling mechanism cannot continue operating in the country.
“Unless companies fulfill these requirements and get listed, their services are likely to be suspended,” Rimal wrote. He urged major platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to comply quickly so users are not disrupted.
Rimal pointed out that social media has become deeply ingrained in daily life, from ordinary citizens to the Prime Minister himself. “These platforms have become part of our routine — a space for sharing updates, official activities, and emotions. But the question is: what if they suddenly stop working?” he asked.
He added that the government and service providers should work together to ensure that social media remains accessible while meeting regulatory obligations.
