The Nepal government has approved the ‘Online Media Operations Directives 2016’ on June 14 2016 which would be formally regulated and implemented by Department of Information (DoI).

The Online Media Operation Directives 2016 has various regulations of  blocking the website which include failure to register and renew the website; publication of materials deemed illegal or immoral or ‘without authoritative source or creating misconceptions among public.

A serious concern has been raised among the civil society intellects  about the freedom of expression and right to speech in Nepal.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliates the Nepal Press Union (NPU) in expressing serious concerns over the recently issued government directives which threatens to undermine press freedom and freedom of expression online in Nepal. The IFJ demands that the Government of Nepal should immediately withdraw the directives.