Nepal Withdraws Controversial Social Media Bill

The Nepal government has retracted the Social Media Bill 2025 after widespread criticism. Originally proposed by former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, the bill aimed to control social media platforms. Its withdrawal follows protests from Gen Z and criticism over a premature ban on 26 social media sites.

In a significant turn of events, the Nepal government has decided to withdraw the controversial Social Media Bill 2025, originally proposed by the administration of former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. The bill had been a subject of intense backlash due to its stringent control measures on social media platforms.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, also serving as the government spokesperson, announced the retraction following a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday. Aryal stated that the decision to retract the Bill from the federal parliament comes after taking into account widespread criticism from all sectors of society.

The bill, which was registered on January 28, 2025, by then-Minister for Communications and Information Prithvi Subba Gurung, had led to youth-led movements demanding lifting the ban on 26 social media sites imposed even before the bill's endorsement. These protests, held last year, contributed to Oli's resignation.

(With inputs from agencies.)