Digital Rights Weekly/Year 2/Issue 50

Dec 22, 2023

Parliamentary Committee Instructs Government to bring Ncell under Government Ownership
On 19 December, the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives instructed the government to pursue measures for the transfer of Ncell’s ownership to the government in 2029, upon expiration of its license. Section 33 of the Telecommunication Act states that a telecom company with over 50 percent foreign ownership must hand over its assets to the government upon license expiration.
Amid suspicions that the Malaysian company may have transferred its stake to a Non-resident Nepali (NRN) to evade the government’s claim on Ncell’s assets post-license expiration, the committee directed the government bodies, including the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT), and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply (MoICS), to amend governing laws and regulations facilitating the transfer of the private telco’s ownership to the state.
On the related development, the Supreme Court (SC) has issued a show-cause order on a writ petition related to the purchase and sale of shares in the telecom company Ncell. Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut issued the order on the petition filed by House of Representatives lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh. Singh alleges that the shares were traded in an opaque manner, potentially harming the state by sidestepping Nepal’s legal processes.

Government Prohibits Strikes in Essential Services, Including Telecom and Internet
On December 14, a gazette notification was issued, delineating a comprehensive list of service areas where strikes are strictly prohibited. Acting under the authority vested in Sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Essential Services Operation Act, 2014, the government has issued a compelling order aimed at averting strikes in essential services, encompassing vital sectors such as telecom and internet services. Under this notice the government has designated certain services as strike-free zones, encompassing essential domains like print or government printing, banking, electricity, consular department services, and internet services.MoCIT to Frame Concept Note on AI
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) is set to frame a concept paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Netra Prasad Subedi, the ministry spokesperson and Joint Secretary, revealed that the ministry is in the process of formulating the AI concept. Subedi stated, “Recognizing the necessity for a comprehensive AI concept, the ministry has been actively working on developing the concept paper since last week.”

MoCIT Set to Unveil Social Media regulation Bill
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has prepared a draft bill aimed at regulating and managing social media platforms. Spokesperson Netra Prasad Subedi announced that the bill is set to be unveiled to the public on 24 December. This initiative comes as the government responds to mounting concerns regarding the use and misuse of social media in tandem with the rapid advancements in information and technology. It’s noteworthy that the Government of Nepal has previously issued a Social Media Regulation Directive, indicating an ongoing effort to address the evolving landscape of digital communication.

KMC Organizing Information Technology Conference
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is planning to host an Information Technology Conference in the upcoming Nepali month of Chaitra. The exact date is yet to be determined. Recommendations from the conference is expected to contribute in formulating policies for providing technology-based public services to KMC residents. The event aims to promote digital inclusiveness in policy-making, governance, and community engagement, extending its impact to social, private enterprise, industry, and commerce sectors.

Government Endorsed Guidelines for Social Media Use in Government Offices
The government has granted approval for guidelines governing the use of social media by government offices. During a Council of Ministers meeting on 21 December, the decision was made to endorse the “Directive on The Use of Social Media in Government offices, 2080,” which had been presented by the Council of Ministers Social Committee. These approved guidelines aim to regulate the utilization of social media within government offices.

CIAA and MoCIT Launch Investigations into Alleged Corruption in MDMS
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) are separately conducting investigations into allegations of corruption related to the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) operation project initiated by the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA). The MDMS project, designed to safeguard International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) and other mobile data within Nepal while preventing the illegal import of mobile devices, is reportedly not yet fully operational.

Opportunity

Apply for Democracy and Information Manipulation Training in Bagmati!!!
The Centre for Media Research-Nepal (CMR-Nepal) has announced the opening of applications for a training program on democracy and information manipulation scheduled to take place in Bagmati Province in Poush 2080. The opportunity is open for individuals aged 18 to 40, including youth, journalists, media professionals, social media page operators, and politically active women.
To apply: Centre for Media Research- Nepal

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.