Surge in Persecution for Online Criticism in Nepal
Police have arrested several individuals under the Electronic Transaction Act (Cyber Crime) for their social media activity, including criticism of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and spreading misinformation.
One of the cases involved Ramesh Bahadur Rawal, a 21-year-old employee from Keystone Hospital in Barhabise, Sindhupalchowk, who posted a Facebook status calling Prime Minister Oli as corrupt. Rawal was arrested on 16 August and charged with spreading public hatred. He was released later. Police say Rawal’s post labeled Oli as the “kuldevi of corruption” and “mahadev of corruption,” leading to his arrest after a complaint by Ajit Kumar Lama.
In Kailali, two youths—Pratik Joshi and Racheet Sarkar Shah—from Dhangadhi were arrested on 28 August for writing on Facebook seeking accountability. Joshi, while welcoming Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Aarzu Rana Deuba, who was due to arrive the next day to Dhangadhi, and wrote: “The country is in real crisis and people are in trouble… is this what happens in your democracy?” Similarly, Racheet had asked a number of questions, including “Don’t you feel ashamed not to be able to do anything substantial even while being the PM for five times, Mr Deuba? Don’t you feel ashamed to appoint someone involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam as the minister? in his post. They were released later on the condition that they do not interfere with public peace and security.
In another case, Man Bahadur Karki was arrested in Kathmandu for posting content on Facebook deemed harmful to social harmony. SP Deepak Raj Awasthi from the Cyber Bureau stated that Karki’s posts violated Section 47 of the Electronic Transaction Act, which prohibits content that spreads hatred or malice or disrupts public decency.
The Cyber Bureau has issued a public warning about the responsible use of social media, stating that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. They cautioned against spreading misleading information that could disrupt social harmony and public order, and warned that those who misuse information and technology may face legal action.
|
|
|
Websites of Key Government Ministries Down Due to Expired Licenses
The websites of over half a dozen ministries under the Nepal government have been inaccessible for more than week due to expired licenses. Key ministries affected include the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, as well as the Ministry of Forest and Environment. The issue stems from the expiration of the necessary licenses for managing the websites, including the control panel (C-panel) and SSL certificates, which are crucial for securing and managing web services. When the C-panel license expires, the associated SSL certificate also becomes invalid, causing websites to go offline.
This situation highlights the government’s negligence in maintaining basic information and communication technology (ICT) services. Experts have raised concerns about the lack of attention to such essential tasks in government agencies. |
|
NTA Directs to Restore TikTok Access
The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has instructed telecom companies and internet providers to restore access to TikTok from 6 September, following the decision to lift the nine-month ban.
NTA issued the directive under Section 15 of the Telecommunications Act, 2053, after TikTok representatives from Singapore signed an agreement with the government on 5 September, 2024. The government lifted the ban after TikTok agreed to register in Nepal, appoint a local contact, and support tourism, digital security, literacy, and public education.Facebook Restores Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah’s Post
Facebook has reinstated a post by Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, which had been previously removed for violating community standards.
Facebook had initially flagged Shah’s post for harassment and bullying, prompting Shah to express frustration with Prime Minister KP Oli, accusing the government involvement. In response, Shah’s supporters initiated an “unfollow” campaign against Oli’s Facebook page. However, Shah’s team later clarified that Facebook, not the government, had removed the post.
Press Council Nepal Chair Urges Media Responsibility
Press Council Nepal Chair Bal Krishna Basnet has called on media stakeholders to avoid using media to destabilize the country. At a program on 5 September, Basnet highlighted the Council’s active monitoring of YouTube and online platforms for irresponsible and baseless information and announced actions against those involved. He informed that the Council will revoke credentials of journalists who spread false information, viewing it as an abuse of press freedom.
NTA Mandates Fee Approval for ISPs
The Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has instructed internet service providers (ISPs) not to impose fees on customers without prior approval. In a circular issued on 5 September through the Economic Analysis Section, the NTA emphasized that all fees and tariffs must be approved by the Authority, as per Section 42 of the Telecommunications Act, 2053. The circular came after it was found that some ISPs were charging customers and announcing new rates through social media, newspapers, and their websites without obtaining official approval. |
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
