Kathmandu, October 1, 2026 — The government is preparing a separate legal framework to regulate social media and address fraud, character assassination, defamation and the spread of false and misleading information on online platforms, Information and Communications Minister Dr Bikram Timilsina said on Wednesday.
Responding to questions from lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Timilsina said the government was pursuing policy and legal reforms to address the growing misuse of social media. He said the ministry was also studying regulatory practices adopted by other countries, including age-based restrictions, to protect children from risks associated with social media use.
The minister said drafts of the Mass Communication Bill and Media Council Bill had incorporated provisions aimed at controlling false and misleading information disseminated through mass media and social media. He said the bills would be registered in Parliament soon.
He said the government was separately working on a legal mechanism to systematize and regulate social media.
Timilsina said the Media Council Bill had been prepared to strengthen Press Council Nepal by providing it with additional powers and responsibilities. According to him, the proposed law would strengthen the council’s role in enforcing journalistic codes of conduct and promoting professional journalism.
