Facebook is starting to shut down
Ncell, World Link and Nepal Telecom shut down Facebook
World Link CEO Keshav Nepal informed that Facebook has been shut down as per the government's directive.
The social networking platform Facebook has started to shut down in Nepal. Internet service provider company World Link has shut down Facebook a while ago.
Now, Facebook has stopped working from World Link's IP address. World Link CEO Keshav Nepal informed that Facebook has been shut down as per the government's directive.
Internet Service Providers Association President Sudhir Parajuli said that the process has started and it will take some time for all internet providers to shut down.
'The process of shutting down social networks has moved forward as per the directive from the government. The extensions are being shut down,' he said.
In accordance with the same government directive, Nepal Telecom has also shut down social networking platforms that are operating without registration. Telecom issued a notice on Thursday, stating that it has closed the unregistered platforms as per the directives of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority.
‘The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has written to this company to deactivate the unlisted social media platforms operating in Nepal in accordance with the order of the Honorable Supreme Court, the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Government of Nepal, the decision of the ministerial meeting of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Directive to regulate the use of social media, 2080, through its letter dated 2082/05/19, Ch. No. 597, and accordingly, we request you to provide information on the details of the closure of such social media platforms for the time being,’ Telecom said.
The matter of re-opening the closed platforms will be as per the directives received from the authority in the coming days.
Similarly, Ncell had stated that it has closed the social media platforms including Facebook that were operating without registration.
Earlier, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority had directed the Internet Service Providers Association to close 26 social media platforms based on the Supreme Court order, the decision of the Cabinet of the Government of Nepal on Bhadra 5, the ministerial decision of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology held today (Thursday), and the Directive on Managing the Use of Social Media, 2080.
The government had also decided to close the social media platforms Facebook, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Snapchat, Reddit, Discord, Pinterest, Signal, Threads, WeChat, Quora, Tumblr, Clubhouse, Mastodon, Rumble, Meebee, VK, Line, Emo, Jalo, Soul and Hamro Patro.
The government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had brought social media regulatory guidelines on 23 Kartik 2080, including making arrangements for social media to be registered and have a contact point in Nepal.
Immediately on 27 Kartik, the Cabinet meeting decided to ban TikTok, saying that it was spreading social hatred and violating social dignity.
In which countries is Facebook registered?
The Supreme Court has mentioned in its decision that 105 laws have been formulated in 78 countries to regulate social media. Although the models for regulating social media are different, we find that many countries have implemented the system of legally registering and establishing an office or appointing a resident representative, as in Nepal.
Talking about South Asia, social media including Facebook are already registered and operating in India. Contact persons have been appointed to hear local complaints and address them. There is no mandatory provision for the contact person to be within India. He or she must hear the complaints of users within India, regardless of where he or she lives.
Pakistan's rules also require social media companies like Facebook and Twitter to set up local offices. Similarly, Facebook has opened its liaison office in Tel Aviv, Israel.
In India, Facebook has opened its liaison offices in Gurgaon and three other states.
