In an apparent bid aimed at regulating the mushrooming online media, the government on Sunday made public the ‘Online Media Operation Directive 2073’. The directive was criticized by media experts and various organizations working for the welfare of journalists before its introduction. The directive states that the government shut the online media that are not registered with the government body, or have failed to renew their licenses within a specified deadline, or operating illegally.

Similarly, the directive further states that any online media that run unverified news without official sources and misleading content can be shut down. “The governing body can shut down the media if the information disseminated by them creates an unfavorable situation,” according to the directive. Experts have opined that the government is trying to shrink the freedom of the press and weaken the independence of media. What cannot be published? Information disrupting Nepal’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, nationality, or harmony between federal entities, cast, ethnic groups, religion, or community.

Discourage treason, insult, or negligence to court and criminal activities. Information is unfavorable to social etiquette and norms. Contents promoting disregard towards work, caste-based and gender discrimination, Information without verified source, misleading content, and unfavorable to international relationship The directive also demands application for registration from online media houses within 60 days of the effect of this directive. It has instructed the online portals to compulsorily display on its homepage the webpage icon of those websites from where contents have been extracted or republished. According to the directive, online media should maintain archives of materials published by them for at least six months of such publications.