Digital Rights Weekly/Year 1/Issue 25

Nov 25, 2022

Call for Application!!!

Digital Rights Nepal is hosting a two-day residential winter school on Digital Rights on December 22-23, 2022 to equip participants with knowledge about Digital Rights issues, and to empower them with tips and tricks to identify digital security threats and vulnerabilities and ways to tackle them. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2022.
The Digital Rights winter school will focus on the Basics of Digital Rights, Online Freedom of Expression, Online Privacy, Digital Inclusion and Connectivity, Data Privacy and Protection, Online Mis/disinformation and Hate Speech, Digital Security, and Digital Hygiene.
Applications will be accepted from students, youths, and individuals working in the private sector, civil society and governments from all over Nepal. There is no age limit. Members of at-risk and marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.
Interested individuals may apply through this form on or before Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
Apply here: https://forms.gle/S7RYuxxN6EEosbgp8
For further information click on the link below: Digital Rights Nepal

Content Filtering by ISPs in Nepal

It has been reported that the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nepal have been restricting its users from accessing football live-streaming websites on the grounds of them not being registered in Nepal.
The Nepal Telecommunication Authority the regulatory authority has claimed that it has not issued any order to such effect.
ISPs are not a regulatory body, without the order from the regulatory body ISPs do not have the authority to restrict users from accessing certain content, doing so is blatant content filtering. In the case, ISPs are referring to the regulator’s order for such an act, the regulator, in this case the Nepal Telecom Authority, should take immediate actions against ISPs involved in content filtering.

ICT ISSUES OF THE WEEK

Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is Underway
The 17th IGF, under the overarching theme Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future, will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 28 November to 2 December 2022. The meeting programme is guided by five themes drawn from the Global Digital Compact in the UN Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda report. The themes include, Governing Data and Protecting Privacy, Enabling Safety, Security and Accountability, Addressing Advanced Technologies, including AI. The IGF is a global multistakeholder platform that facilitates the discussion of public policy issues pertaining to the Internet.
For More Information: Internet Governance Forum

Police Nabbed People Involved in Online Betting
Police have arrested over 20 people on the charge of online betting during a cricket match between Nepal and the United Arab Emirates played at the TU cricket ground on 18 November. Similarly, Nepal police issued a notice about taking strong action against online betting on ongoing FIFA World cup football.
Section 125 of the National Penal (Code) Act, 2017 prohibits gambling and betting in Nepal. Nepal Police bust numerous illicit betting rings every year, however, they are only able to apprehend agents because the majority of those involved in running these rings are usually located abroad.
For more: Techpana

Meta Rolls out new Privacy Updates for Teens
In order to safeguard teenagers on Instagram and Facebook from online damages, Meta has implemented new privacy enhancements. Facebook announced in a blog post that anyone under the age of 16, or under the age of 18 in some countries, will now automatically be placed in more private settings.
The company is also experimenting with ways to stop kids from messaging dubious adults they are not related to, so that the platform won’t list them in its People You May Know suggestions.
For more: Technology Khabar

Google Maps starts showing live traffic in Nepal
Google Maps have started showing live traffic and busy areas of the cities in Nepal. The pioneer map company has finally implemented this helpful feature into its app for Nepali users, which originally was started in 2007.
With this new update, the app can show busy area with traffic condition on the maps. When the user selects a specific destination on Google Maps and starts navigation, information about the road traffic conditions is displayed. It is showcased in three colors; blue, yellow, and red.
For more: Techpana

Scam Alert !!!
On WhatsApp, many Nepali users have received fake Daraz part-time job offers. As the number of recipients of the scams grew, the company promptly issued a statement urging customers to stay alert.
The rogues behind the message apparently offer part-time employment on popular eCommerce to lure users into giving away their personal details, displaying the official Daraz logo.
For more: Techmandu

Upcoming Event : Status of Data Protection in Nepal
Martin Chautari, a research and discourse focused NGO, is organizing a discussion on the Status of Data Protection in Nepal, on November 27, 2022, Sunday 3:00 PM at Martin Chautari Meeting Hall, Thapathali, Kathmandu.
For More Info: Martine Chautari

Digital Rights Weekly is a week-based update on Digital Rights and ICT issues, that happened throughout the week, compiled and analyzed from the digital rights perspective by Digital Rights Nepal (DRN). DRN is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to the protection and promotion of digital rights, including the right to online freedom of expression and association, online privacy, access to information, and related issues such as internet governance, cyber laws/policies, and cyber securities in Nepal.

Digital Rights Nepal