Nepal Police chief flags probe delays due to unregistered social media, Calls for mandatory registration in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police Chief Dan Bahadur Karki has raised serious concerns over delays in criminal investigations due to the absence of major social media platforms being formally registered in Nepal, urging the government to enforce legal compliance while also facilitating their local registration.

Speaking at a meeting of the Federalism Strengthening and National Concerns Committee, IGP Karki said that most widely used platforms operate from abroad, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to access critical user data in a timely manner.

Investigation Delays Due to Lack of Local Presence

According to Karki, while urgent cases such as missing minors and suicide-related incidents sometimes receive responses within 24 hours, most other requests for information from social media companies take up to a week or longer.

“The lack of formal registration of social media platforms in Nepal has directly impacted investigation timelines,” he said, adding that in many cases, police have had to rely on informal personal networks to obtain sensitive data from platforms like Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Karki acknowledged that Nepal lacks a clear legal framework requiring these platforms to maintain a local presence or comply with domestic data-sharing obligations, which has weakened investigative efficiency.

Rising Cybercrime Cases

The concerns come amid a sharp rise in cybercrime cases across Nepal. Police data presented by the IGP shows:

• Over 10,000 complaints related to financial cybercrime, including online fraud, account hacking, and digital extortion
• More than 4,000 cases involving fake social media accounts spreading hate or misinformation
• Over 3,000 reported incidents of cyberbullying and online harassment

Women and youth have emerged as the most vulnerable groups affected by these crimes.

“The increasing use of the internet and mobile devices has led to a surge in cybercrime. Financial fraud is the most dominant category at present,” Karki said.

Platforms Operating Without Registration

Despite their massive user base in Nepal, several global platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Discord, Snapchat, WeChat, Reddit, and Gmail—are not formally registered in the country.

Officials say requests for user data, content takedown, or legal cooperation from these platforms often go unanswered or face significant delays.

In contrast, platforms such as TikTok, Viber, Nimbuzz, WeTalk, and Kuaishou (KapoKoli/Kuaishou Live) have already been registered in Nepal.

Call for Legal Enforcement and Government Facilitation

Security officials and policymakers are now calling for a dual approach:

• Mandatory Registration: All major social media platforms operating in Nepal should be required to register locally and comply with existing cyber laws, data-sharing protocols, and regulatory standards.
• Government Facilitation: The government must create a clear, predictable, and business-friendly framework to encourage these global tech companies to establish a formal presence in Nepal. This includes streamlined registration processes, regulatory clarity, and institutional coordination.

Experts argue that enforcement without facilitation could discourage compliance, while facilitation without enforcement would fail to address law enforcement challenges.

Policy Urgency

The issue highlights a growing regulatory gap in Nepal’s digital ecosystem, where user adoption has surged but legal and institutional frameworks remain underdeveloped.

With cybercrime rising and digital platforms playing an increasingly central role in economic and social life, the absence of enforceable jurisdiction over global tech companies poses both security and governance risks.

The government now faces mounting pressure to introduce clear legislation that ensures accountability of digital platforms while fostering an environment that attracts their formal entry into Nepal’s regulatory framework.