Online safety & content laws in Nepal (2026)

Section 47 of the ETA 2063 (enacted 2008) criminalises publication of electronic content 'contrary to public morality' or that spreads hatred, carrying penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment and NPR 100,000 fine; it is the primary basis for cybercrime prosecutions by Nepal Police's Cyber Bureau.

Gazetted on 27 November 2023, the Directives require all domestic and foreign social media platforms to register with MoCIT, establish local offices, appoint Nepali-language grievance officers, and remove prohibited content within 24 hours of a government notification; non-compliance can result in fines or blocking.

In August 2025 MoCIT issued a 7-day registration deadline; 26 platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, and YouTube were blocked on 4 September 2025 for non-compliance. The government reversed the ban on 9 September 2025 following protests in which 19 people died and over 300 were injured.

Unlike India's IT Rules or the EU's DSA, Nepal's framework imposes direct liability on platforms for user-published content without a formal safe-harbour or knowledge-based exemption; platforms must proactively prevent content threatening national sovereignty or harmony.

The Social Media Directives 2080 and the proposed Social Network Bill 2081 both prohibit anonymous accounts; users must verify real identity before accessing platforms. Creating a fake or anonymous account to spread misinformation carries up to 3 months imprisonment or NPR 50,000 fine.

Tabled in the National Assembly on 28 January 2025, the Bill proposes mandatory platform registration, content-moderation obligations, fines up to NPR 2.5 million, and no safe-harbour clause. UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalists have formally criticised it for threatening freedom of expression. As of mid-2026 it has not been enacted.