Telecom Regulator in Nepal Gets a New Chairperson
Bhupendra Bhandari, previously serving as the technology advisor to the Minister for Communication and Information Technology, has officially taken on the role of Chairman at NTA, following an oath-taking ceremony held on 20 February. His appointment came after being selected by the cabinet on 18 February, following a process where 3 top candidates were chosen by the recommendation committed headed by the Secretary, MoCIT.
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Security Printing Center’s ED Paudel Sacked
The government has sacked Bikal Paudel, the suspended executive director of the Security Printing Centre, due to his possession of a permanent residence permit in the United States. The decision was made during a Council of Ministers meeting, citing concerns over his foreign residency status. Paudel is currently in custody of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, facing charges related to misappropriating public funds and transferring assets abroad.
Government Moves to Act on Axiata’s Ncell Stake Sale Investigation Report
Government has taken decisive steps to implement the findings of the investigation into Axiata’s sale of its 80% stake in Ncell. The investigation concluded that Axiata’s transaction did not adhere to Nepalese laws, as both Axiata and Spectrlite UK failed to obtain necessary permissions and pre-inform regulatory bodies. The cabinet meeting held on 18 February 2024 has decided to send the investigation report to relevant bodies for implementation, signaling a commitment to address the issues surrounding Axiata’s Ncell stake sale.
Tech Industry Unites to Combat Deceptive AI in Elections
A consortium of 20 prominent tech companies unveiled a collective effort aimed at thwarting deceptive artificial intelligence content from influencing elections worldwide. This initiative, announced at the Munich Security Conference, responds to concerns regarding the escalating capabilities of generative AI, capable of swiftly generating text, images, and videos in response to prompts. With elections looming and a significant portion of the global population poised to vote, fears have surged regarding the potential exploitation of this technology to sway electoral outcomes.
NYC Mayor Files Lawsuit Against Social Media Giants Over Youth Mental Health
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has taken a bold step by filing a lawsuit against major social media companies, including Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram), Alphabet (YouTube), Snap Inc. (Snapchat), and ByteDance (TikTok). The lawsuit, filed in the California Superior Court, alleges that these platforms have intentionally designed their services to manipulate and addict children and teens, thereby exacerbating the youth mental health crisis. Mayor Adams has highlighted the detrimental effects of the online world on children, emphasizing the relentless exposure to harmful content and its contribution to the national youth mental health crisis.
EU Launches Probe Into TikTok’s Compliance with Online Content Rules
European Union regulators have initiated an investigation into TikTok’s potential violations of online content rules aimed at safeguarding children. Concerns revolve around the platform’s “addictive design,” which could expose young users to harmful content, prompting scrutiny under the Digital Services Act. This expands upon previous inquiries, with potential penalties reaching up to 6% of global revenues. Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission’s executive vice president overseeing digital policy, underscores the importance of online user safety and calls for TikTok to thoroughly assess the risks posed by its services, especially to young users.
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Report/Publication
The International LGBTI Association has launched ‘Accessing Connection’, a pioneering research looking into the complex interplay between disparities in digital access for individuals of diverse sexual orientation, identities, expression and sex characteristics, mapping out the complexities across perspectives of gender, race and migration status, geographic regions, urban-rural contexts, indigeneity, and disability — amongst others. |
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Announcement!!!
🎉Join us at the Women in Data Conference as we celebrate the brilliance, innovation, and achievements of women in the field of data! 🌐💡
Register in this link, before 29 February and to be a part of this empowering experience!
#WIDConference2024 #CtrlZ #TakeBackTech #InclusiveFuture |
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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.
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