US Visa Ban Risk if Nepal Blocks Social Media
भदौ १८, २०८२ १२:७
Kathmandu: After the Nepal government decided to impose stricter controls on social media platforms, the risk has grown that the United States may refuse visas to Nepali officials involved in this process, including the Prime Minister. The situation arises because the US has adopted a policy of barring entry to foreign officials linked to regulating or shutting down social media.
The US has enforced a visa-ban policy targeting officials from countries attempting to impose strict rules on social media content. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy through a press release on May 28, 2025. According to the policy, the US will not grant visas to foreign nationals responsible for censoring expressions considered protected under US standards.
This has raised concerns in Nepal after the government and the Council of Ministers decided to gradually deactivate social media platforms that fail to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology within seven days. The deadline ends Wednesday. The government is preparing to block unregistered platforms, but officials have made no technical or administrative preparations for the shutdown.
Despite the government’s call for registration, none of the major US-based platforms, including Meta (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, WhatsApp), X, Google (YouTube), Microsoft (LinkedIn), and Discord, have come forward.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has been openly critical of Meta, accusing its representatives of disappearing after verbal commitments to support Nepal in the health and agriculture sectors. He has repeatedly insisted that Meta must register, arguing that it is not above the Constitution of Nepal.
The US State Department’s policy specifically targets foreign nationals who censor or restrict content that is considered protected speech in the US. Washington interprets such censorship to include regulating social media content, and a full ban on platforms is likely to be viewed even more seriously.
The policy also applies to authorities who issue or threaten to issue arrest warrants against US citizens or permanent residents over posts made on US-based platforms. Similarly, officials pressuring US companies to adopt global content monitoring or censorship policies could face visa bans.
The cabinet decision to shut down non-registered social media was taken on the proposal of the Ministry of Communications. If implemented, US policy could target not only the Prime Minister who chairs the cabinet meeting but also participating ministers, the Chief Secretary, ministry officials who drafted the proposal, and officials of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority who issue instructions to mobile operators and internet service providers to block the platforms.
An official at the Telecommunications Authority, speaking to TechPana, said: “The issue of banning social media platforms is not just an internal matter. It carries geopolitical consequences. On top of that, the US has directly linked social media censorship to visa bans. This could make it difficult not only for government employees but also for officials and their families to enter the US in the future.”
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: भदौ १८, २०८२ १२:७
