Sovereignty and Freedom in the Digital Era

Nepal’s decision to block more than two dozen unregistered social media and OTT platforms—including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp and X—has sparked a heated debate over digital sovereignty, accountability and freedom of expression. At the heart of the matter lies a fundamental principle: no company, however large, is above the laws of the country in which it operates. Nepal has every right to require global tech companies to comply with its regulations, appoint local representatives and operate within its legal framework. This is not a question of revenue or censorship; it is about accountability, transparency and respect for national sovereignty. The arrogance of tech giants—expecting their users to first accept their terms and conditions while disregarding Nepal’s legal requirements—is indefensible. In 2023, Nepal issued a directive requiring social media platforms to register and establish a local presence. Despite repeated notices and follow-ups, major platforms failed to comply. Frustrated by this non-compliance, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) issued a public notice on August 28—three days after a Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed the requirement—giving platforms a fresh seven-day window to register or face a ban. With the deadline expiring at midnight on Wednesday, September 3, the MoCIT said it had no choice but to enforce the directive.