The Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Nepal, Dan Bahadur Karki, has said that cybercrime incidents in the country are increasing at a rapid pace, with cyberbullying emerging as a growing concern alongside rising internet and mobile usage.
Karki said that enforcement has become challenging because major social media platforms are not registered in Nepal, making it difficult to obtain user data or remove harmful content. He noted that only a few platforms, including TikTok, Viber, Nimbuzz, WeChat, and Poco Live, are officially registered in Nepal. However, widely used services such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—operated by Meta—remain unregistered, creating significant gaps in regulatory and investigative processes.
According to him, women and young people are the most affected groups in rising cybercrime cases. He informed that the police have received over 4,000 complaints involving fake accounts and hate speech, more than 3,000 cases of cyberbullying and harassment, and over 10,000 complaints related to financial crimes.
He also highlighted an increase in account hacking, online fraud, threats, sexual exploitation, and blackmail cases. “Cyberbullying incidents are increasing in our country. We have received more than 10,000 financial crime complaints, over 4,000 fake account-related cases, and more than 3,000 bullying and harassment cases,” Karki said during the committee briefing.
He further stated that cooperation from foreign-operated platforms remains limited, as Nepal lacks direct regulatory offices and strong legal mechanisms for swift data access.
“Obtaining user data from platforms like Facebook and Instagram can take 20 to 25 days. In simpler harassment cases, it may take about a week. However, in serious incidents such as missing minors or suicides, information is provided within 24 hours,” he added.
Karki also noted that platforms including WhatsApp, Discord, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, IMO, WeChat, Reddit, YouTube, and Gmail often do not respond to data requests or content takedown appeals.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has recently warned that individuals spreading misinformation and disinformation will face action under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008.
Earlier, tensions had escalated after calls for registration compliance led to restrictions on multiple social media platforms, sparking widespread public backlash. The issue has since intensified debate around digital rights and online freedom, particularly among young people, with “digital freedom” emerging as a key demand from GenZ activists.
