The Nepalese government has decided to ban social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Under new regulations, the government has imposed restrictions on all these social sites. While there is opposition to the government’s decision, people in Nepal are finding new ways to access them.
Following the ban on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, people have increasingly turned to VPNs. They are easily accessing these banned sites using VPNs.
According to Nepal Cyber Police spokesperson Deepak Raj Awasthi, there has been a rise in VPN usage. Despite the security risks associated with VPNs, people are using them extensively. Authorities are continuously monitoring the situation.
VPN usage is risky, yet people are still using it. According to Google Trends, the search terms ‘VPN for laptop,’ ‘VPN for iPhone,’ and ‘VPN for Facebook’ have been the most searched in Nepal in the last 24 hours.
Internet Service Providers’ Association members are currently able to use Facebook and Instagram without experiencing any issues. The association stated they have received a letter from the government and are preparing a roadmap. Further action will follow. Additionally, people in border areas are facing minimal difficulty in using Facebook and Instagram.
The Nepalese government made the decision to ban 26 social networking apps on Thursday, September 4th. According to Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, this decision was made under the new rules. The Nepalese government prepared a law in 2023, as requested by the Supreme Court.
According to this law, all social networking sites will be required to register in Nepal. Sites must re-register with the Nepalese government every 3 years.
Furthermore, each social media app will be required to appoint a contact officer in Nepal to take immediate action on inappropriate content. The apps must also assure that the information of its citizens is not leaked elsewhere.
Immediately after the ban, the Nepalese government contacted Meta. It is anticipated that the dispute with Meta might be resolved within 7 days. In Nepal, Meta oversees the operations of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.