Biratnagar, Nepal – On Friday, many people gathered in the streets of Biratnagar to protest against a new social media law. Digital activists, influencers, journalists, and content creators stood together at Traffic Chowk. They were worried that this law would take away their freedom to speak online.
The law, called the Social Media Bill, was introduced on January 29, 2025, by Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung. The government says this law will help control social media. But many people believe it will be used to stop people from sharing their opinions.
If the law is passed, social media companies will need a special license from the government. If they do not get this license within three months, they will have to pay huge fines. People who post things that the government does not like could be sent to jail for up to five years or be fined a lot of money. The government can also remove any post they think is bad, without explaining why.
The Nepal Press Union and political leaders from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are against this law. They say it is unfair and will stop people from speaking freely. Business leaders also worry that too many rules will hurt Nepal’s digital growth.
People fear that this law will make social media less free. New social media companies may not want to start in Nepal, and people may lose their right to share different ideas.
Now, many groups are asking the government to change the law. They want rules that keep social media safe but also protect people’s freedom. In the coming weeks, Nepal will decide if it wants to keep social media open or give the government more control over online speech.
