Minister accuses Meta of disrespecting Nepal’s sovereignty, Says new Social Media Law inevitable

KATHMANDU:  Nepal’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has launched a scathing attack on global tech giant Meta, accusing the company of openly rejecting Nepal’s constitution, sovereignty and national laws. Responding to questions in the National Assembly during the debate on the ‘Social Media (Use and Regulation) Bill, 2081,’ the minister stated that regulating large platforms like Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok has become unavoidable to protect national dignity and public order.

“Is Meta your institution or mine?” Gurung questioned legislators on Tuesday, highlighting that the government had formally asked Meta to register in Nepal and establish a liaison office three separate times. “But their response was blunt. They said they don’t recognize our constitution, they don’t recognize our laws, they don’t recognize us at all. That is the level of disrespect we are dealing with,” the minister said.

According to Minister Gurung, the fact that a small regulatory bill has remained pending for so long has emboldened these tech corporations, making them believe that the Nepali government is incapable of enforcement. He argued that these platforms have refused to take responsibility for content regulation, filtering or accountability, leading to a rapid rise in cybercrime, hate speech, disinformation and social disorder.

The minister, however, rejected accusations that the new bill aims to curb free speech. He insisted that the goal is to promote a healthy, civilized and lawful online environment. “This bill is not intended to muzzle criticism,” he said. “Our only purpose is to build a more orderly society. Activities that disturb social harmony, incite ethnic conflict or encourage violence, murder and rape cannot be defined as freedom of expression.”

Gurung presented striking statistics from the Cyber Bureau, stating that over 19,730 complaints related to cybercrime were registered in the last fiscal year alone. Offenses include the creation of fake IDs, hacking, breach of privacy, sexual exploitation (‘sextortion’) and financial extortion, all of which, he said, are flourishing on unregulated platforms. He argued that existing laws are insufficient to control these emerging threats.

The minister clarified that the bill targets foreign digital platforms like Meta, X and TikTok—not domestic online news media. He indicated that the government is open to amendments regarding the level of penalties proposed in the bill, and invited MPs to engage in clause-by-clause discussion in parliamentary committee. “It is wrong to say that criminals should not be punished. But yes, we can discuss the extent of the penalties,” he added.

Gurung cited verdicts from Nepal’s Supreme Court directing regulation of social media, as well as similar laws enacted in Bangladesh, India, and other countries. He emphasized that Nepal cannot afford to delay such legislation any longer, given the growing social risks posed by unrestricted online behavior.

In his speech, Gurung portrayed the bill as a response to rising online anarchy, disrespect of Nepali sovereignty by foreign tech monopolies, and a necessary step toward digital accountability and cyber safety. He said the refusal of Meta and other giants to even register in Nepal shows a clear disregard for national jurisdiction. “They think the Nepali state has no authority. That is why they ignore us. This bill is needed to prove that the state still exists.”

As public debate intensifies, the proposed Social Media Regulation Bill has become a major focal point in Nepal’s digital governance policy, intersecting human rights concerns, sovereignty issues, and rising cybercrime prevention. The government believes the law will finally bring Big Tech under regulatory oversight, while civil liberties groups are watching closely to ensure it does not degenerate into a tool of censorship.