Digital Rights Weekly/Year 2/Issue 10

Mar 10, 2023

Cyber Bureau to act against Social Media Obscenity
The Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police has issued a public notice urging people to refrain from creating or promoting obscene content or materials on various social media platforms. The bureau has specifically stated that it is illegal to publish or display any material deemed obscene or prohibited by Nepali law for financial gain. The notice also warns against publishing content that goes against public morality, promotes hate or jealousy towards any individual or community, or jeopardizes harmonious relations between different castes, tribes, and communities. The Cyber Bureau requests that anyone who notices such activities should inform them for necessary legal action. It further emphasizes that action will be taken in accordance with the prevailing law against any individual who engages in such activities.
While DRN supports efforts to prevent the creation and dissemination of illegal content, including obscene or prohibited materials, we caution against overly broad or vague language that could potentially restrict free expression and violate individuals’ right to privacy. DRN believes that any restrictions on speech should be clearly defined and necessary to prevent harm to individuals or the public. DRN urges the Cyber Bureau to ensure that any legal action taken against individuals is in accordance with the principles of due process and proportionality, and that any restrictions on freedom of expression are narrowly tailored and necessary to achieve a legitimate aim.

Mobile Call Quality below par in Kathmandu- NTA reports
A recent mobile service quality report by the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has found that mobile call quality in Kathmandu is below the desired standard. Conducted through a “drive test” that evaluated the voice services of Nepal’s three main operators, Nepal Telecom (NTC), Ncell, and Smart Cell, the report found that all three operators failed to meet the authority’s set parameters for call quality.
According to the report, Nepal Telecom’s call setup success rate was just 88.78%, while Ncell’s was 93.69% and Smart Cell’s was a dismal 26.39%. Similarly, in terms of call block rate, Ncell had the lowest rate at 6.3%, while NTC was at 11.21%, and Smart Cell’s performance was worst, with a call block rate of 73.6%. It should be noted that Smart Cell’s poor performance may be due to limited coverage for its mobile services.

Information Highway work at a Sluggish Pace
The development of the information highway project, which is regarded as the foundation for the growth of information technology in the nation, is moving at a sluggish pace. The completion of the two sections that were expected to be finished by the previous year has only reached 39%.
Nepal Telecom is responsible for Package 1 and Package 3, but the installation of optical fiber and other necessary equipment is significantly behind schedule. Package 3 has only achieved 16.56% of the planned optical fiber installation, 23 out of 28 DWDM systems have been installed, and 46 out of 56 core router devices have been installed.
Package 1 is set to have 2,179 km of optical fiber installed, but only 1,341 km or 61.54% of the work has been done. Furthermore, out of 28 DWDM systems that need to be installed under this package, only 27 have been installed, and 47 of the 48 core router equipment are yet to be installed.Package 2, which was assigned to United Telecom Limited in April 2018, has made no progress, and the contract has now expired without any extension.

Nepal’s Per Month Smartphone Mobile Data Traffic to Increase by 2.2 Times
Mobile Data traffic in Nepal will increase 2.2 times by 2028. The launch and growth of 5G, video content, and mobile gaming will accelerate mobile data traffic in the next 6 years, GSMA says in its Mobile Economy Report 2023.
The same list also includes Bhutan, and India together whose monthly data traffic per smartphone is estimated to increase from 25 GB per month in 2022 to 54 GB per month in 2028, GSMA predicts.

Internet for Trust Conference discusses guidelines for online platforms
The first-ever conference to discuss draft global guidelines for regulating digital platforms ended on Thursday in Paris with a call to uphold the right to seek and receive information in the face of rising disinformation online. More than 4,300 people participated in the Internet for Trust Conference, organized by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which will launch the guidelines in September.

Resources

Digital Security: Remove Personal Data from the Internet
The article “Digital Security: Remove Personal Data from the Internet” provides valuable information for journalists on how to protect their personal information and limit their digital footprint. It offers various ways and methods to ensure online security, such as using secure passwords, encrypting emails, and using two-factor authentication. The article also provides guidance on how to remove personal information from websites and accounts controlled by the journalist or their family, which can help to minimize the risk of identity theft or other online threats.
Overall, the article serves as a useful resource for journalists looking to improve their digital security and protect their personal information online.
To read: Committee to Protect Journalist

Opportunity

APNIC Fellowship Program
APNIC offers annual fellowships to members of the Asia Pacific Internet community in Developing, Least Developed Country (LDC), or Small Island Development State (SIDS) economies. The program provides financial support and guidance for participation in a structured online fellowship program and attendance at APNIC conferences, where fellows can engage and learn from internationally recognized experts.
The 2023 APNIC Fellowship program includes travel to attend APNIC 56 in Kyoto, Japan, and fellows are expected to be available to attend the conference. The program fosters diverse stakeholder groups to discuss technical and Internet governance matters and number resource policies. It also prioritizes gender and geographical diversity and encourages the full participation and involvement of women from the Internet community in the conferences and APNIC activities.
For more: Fellowship – APNIC

Apply for Feira the Global Gathering!!!
The Feira the Global Gathering (“Fair” in Portuguese) will be a 3-day social and networking festival for digital rights defenders, hosted in an idyllic outdoor space in Estoril, Portugal. The Feira space is open to all individuals who RSVP (pending approval) and will provide a rejuvenating space for individuals to reconnect, relax and host informal meetups and discussions, along with sun, food, music, local vendors, select project booths and other fun activities. Make sure to apply before April 7, 2023.
To apply: A pply for the Feira @ the Global Gathering! — Team CommUNITY (digitalrights.community)

Thoughtful Biometrics workshop happening on 16 March
Thoughtful Biometric Workshop is happening on 16 March 2023. The aim of the Thoughtful Biometrics workshop is to facilitate meaningful discussions among diverse stakeholders who are involved in the fields of biometrics, AI, and digital identity, with a focus on exploring the social and policy implications of these technologies.
To participate: TBW2 – Home (thoughtfulbiometrics.org)

ToT on Understanding Misinformation and Disinformation happening soon!!!
Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab), with financial assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Nepal, is organizing provincial workshops on “Understanding Misinformation and Disinformation” in all seven provinces of Nepal. The provincial workshops aim to engage 20 participants from each province, totaling 140 training of trainers (ToT) from across the country. The primary objective of these workshops is to equip young journalists, content creators, activists, and youth leaders with the necessary knowledge and resources to combat misinformation and disinformation.
To apply: https://apply.shikshya.org/

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.