Governments in Jammu and Kashmir and Nepal move to regulate social media

Governments in Jammu and Kashmir and Nepal are developing new regulatory frameworks to manage online news and social media platforms.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the government announced the upcoming New Media Policy 2026. This policy aims to regulate online news platforms and unregistered social media handles to combat the spread of misleading or fabricated information. Minister for Higher Education Sakina Itoo stated the framework will include registration requirements and accountability mechanisms for digital content publishers.

In Nepal, the government is drafting separate laws to regulate social media and address issues such as fraud, misinformation, and character assassination. Minister for Information and Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina noted that the Mass Communications Bill and Press Council Bill are being prepared for Parliament. These measures include potential age-based restrictions for children and strengthening the Press Council's ability to enforce journalistic codes of conduct. Additionally, authorities in Nepal have identified and shut down over 305,000 online betting sites and apps through inter-agency coordination.