Digital Rights Weekly/Year 2/Issue 13

Mar 31, 2023

National Census 2021 Reflects Digital Penetration in Nepal
Nepal government has formally unveiled the Census Report 2021. According to the full report of the National Population and Housing Census 2021, 73.2% of Nepali population owns mobile phones. The report indicates that mobile phone users make up 72.6% in the Koshi province, 74.8% in the Madhesh province, 68.2% in the Bagmati province, 71.1% in the Gandaki province, 74.6% in the Lumbini province, 82.2% in the Karnali province and 79.1% in the Far West province.
The report also highlights that 73% of people living in Nepal use smartphones. Among them, 74.2% in the Koshi province, 66.9% in the Madhesh province, 80% in the Bagmati province, 77.8% in the Gandaki province, 75.5% in the Lumbini province, 58.4% in the Karnali province, and 62.67% in the Sudurpaschim province have access to smartphones.
Additionally, the report highlights that 34.2% of Nepalis listen to the radio, while only 49.4% have access to television facilities at home. The report also states that 15% of Nepalis have access to computers and laptops, while only 37.8% of Nepalis use the internet.
The high percentage of mobile phone ownership and smartphone usage in Nepal highlights the importance of promoting digital safety and rights awareness among the population. Access to the internet is crucial for exercising freedom of expression and accessing information, but it also poses risks to privacy and security. We urge individuals, especially those from at-risk communities, to equip themselves with digital safety knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely.

GIDC at its Full Capacity
The Government Integrated Data Centre (GIDC) situated inside the National Information Technology Centre (NITC) at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu has reached its full capacity, according to NITC. The increasing demand for servers in the government sector, particularly after the 2072 earthquake, has resulted in a surge of applications from government agencies to avail services from GIDC. The NITC had floated tenders to expand its capacity last year, and necessary equipment has already arrived via the tender process. Within the next 15 days, NITC plans to expand its capacity and provide additional services, including the hosting of approximately 150 new servers.

Government offers Income Tax Exemption to Startups
Startup enterprises or businesses can now take advantage of a 100% income tax exemption for the first three years of profit, according to the Draft National Startup Enterprise Policy-2079. The policy classifies startups as those with characteristics such as no more than 10 full-time employees, fixed capital (including land value) of less than Rs 20 million, paid-up capital not exceeding Rs 5 million, and an annual total income not exceeding Rs 5 million.
Additionally, the policy specifies that 14 different sectors, including science, technology, communication, and information technology, will be eligible for the tax exemption.

Cinema Cyber Security Desk Comes into Operation
The Film Development Board (FDB) of Nepal has established a Cinema Cyber Security desk with a hotline number to improve its security and integrate technology into its operations. This initiative comes after numerous Nepali films were subjected to piracy, and the cyber security desk was launched to promptly respond to such incidents. In order to fund the operation of the cybersecurity desk, the Board has submitted a budget proposal for the next fiscal year, 2080/81, to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT).

Old Data from Government Websites to be Removed
Following the directive from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, state bodies will remove remaining old data from government websites in order to upgrade them. Consequently, the content and links from the old web pages will be removed from the new ones. It has been claimed that the action is necessary due to the presence of irrelevant and outdated content on many government websites, which has led to poor website performance and increased cybersecurity concerns, as evidenced by recent incidents.

All Land Revenue Offices to go Online
To facilitate technology-driven public services, the government has decided to make all Land Revenue Offices (Malpot Karyalaya) electronic. This move aligns with the government’s push to digitize public services. According to Dr. Damodar Regmi, Secretary, Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, offices that are not yet connected to the electronic system have been directed to establish the connection in two stages. The government intends to complete the electronic connectivity of all Land Revenue Offices by Baisakh 2, at first stage and by the conclusion the next Ashar, at the second stage.

AI could Replace Equivalent of 300 Million Jobs
Goldman Sachs’ report suggests that approximately 300 million full-time jobs could be replaced by Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to the report, AI could also replace around 25% of work tasks in the United States and Europe, leading to new job opportunities and increased productivity. Additionally, the report highlights that AI could potentially increase the global annual value of goods and services produced by 7%. The report also notes that Generative AI, which is capable of creating content that is nearly identical to human work, is a significant technological advancement.

Interaction organized on the Draft Telecom Bill
Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) organized a “Stakeholders Interaction on Telecommunication Bill” on March 30, 2023, with the aim of discussing the provisions of the draft bill and its potential impact with civil society and stakeholders from various sectors. Former Senior Director of Nepal Telecommunication Authority, Mr. Ananda Raj Khanal, presented the problematic provisions of the Bill during the program, while Mr. Santosh Sigdel, the founding chair of DRN, gave an overview of the Bill’s provisions from human rights and digital rights perspective. Mr. Tanka Raj Aryal, Chairperson, DRN, moderated the session where stakeholders expressed concerns that the constitutionally guaranteed rights could be undermined.

Opportunity Apply for Digital Samvad 4.0 Fellowship
The ICT Foundation is looking for one young leader, who can spearhead the digital transformation within their locality, from each province in Nepal to serve as the Digital Samvad Fellow. They are expected to facilitate various initiatives aimed at promoting research and dialogue with the top leaders in their community. To be eligible for the Digital Samvad 4.0 Fellowship, applicants must either be current university students or professionals in Nepal with a genuine passion for technology, have determined their career objectives, be interested in studying leadership, IT, and entrepreneurship, and be genuinely dedicated to their personal and professional growth.
To apply: Digital Samvad 4.0 Fellowship

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.