On Thursday, after a cabinet meeting, Nepal approved the new guidelines to regulate social media platforms issued by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. The guidelines were drafted to ensure social media platforms are not misused to incite conflict and promote hatred. According to the new guidelines, social media platforms, such as Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter, operating in Nepal will have to register with the government and get a licence within three months. It also specifies the responsibilities of both social media platform operators and users.

Why does it matter?

The approval of these guidelines is significant as it addresses concerns related to the unregulated nature of social media platforms. The underlying issue with this topic is the unresolved tension between protecting freedom of expression and the need for content moderation in the platforms. The topic is complex and challenges the potential misuse of these platforms for illicit activities.