Meta's Facebook will be closed in Nepal

The Gate platform is facing a shutdown in Nepal after failing to register with the government.

Following the trend of increased government oversight of large tech companies and social media, Nepal has ordered the shutdown of unregistered social media platforms, including Gate.

Nepal orders the closure of Gate

On Thursday, Nepal announced that it would block access to several social media platforms, including Gate, for not registering with the authorities.

Officials indicated that companies had been given a deadline to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, provide a local contact, appoint a complaints officer, and designate someone in charge of self-regulation. Platforms that did not meet these requirements by Wednesday faced the risk of being shut down.

The Ministry declared that the new regulations aim to curb the growing misuse of social networks, as users spread hate, false news, and commit cybercrimes through fake accounts. About 90% of the 30 million inhabitants of Nepal use the Internet, and the government argues that stricter regulations are needed to protect social harmony.

A government statement, issued on Thursday, ordered the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to deactivate unregistered platforms.

According to an official from the Ministry of Communications, TikTok, Viber, WeTalk, Nimbuzz, and Poppo Live have completed the registration process. However, the main Gate services did not.

The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, stated that the government gave sufficient time to companies to comply, but was forced to take action when they refused.

“We gave them enough time to register and repeatedly asked them to comply with our request, but they ignored it and we had to close their operations in Nepal,” explained Gurung.

Global regulatory efforts

Governments around the world are intensifying their efforts to oversee large technology and social media companies. Officials from the United States, the European Union, Brazil, and Australia have pushed for new regulations to address misinformation, online harms, and concerns about data privacy.

India has already introduced strict requirements for foreign tech companies, including the appointment of local compliance officers and the establishment of systems for the removal of harmful content. China also enforces strict controls, with mandatory licensing requirements and heavy censorship of online platforms.

Critics of these measures argue that they can restrict freedom of expression and give governments excessive control over online spaces. Human rights groups often warn that shutting down platforms can silence political dissent or limit open debate.

In Nepal, Manish Jha, spokesperson for the Independent National Party, stated that regulation should focus on accountability without crossing the line of censorship.

“(Social media) should be legally monitored, disciplined, and not allowed to become malicious, but not shut down,” Jha said.

Despite these concerns, the government of Nepal insists that its actions are necessary to maintain order. Officials claim that unregistered platforms allow users to hide behind false identities and cause real harm. By requiring companies to register and designate responsible parties, authorities hope to improve accountability and cooperation in the investigation of cyber crimes.