Nepal Police Intensify Social Media Monitoring on Anti-Government Posts Nepal Police have increased monitoring of social media content, targeting posts deemed “indecent” or disrespectful toward Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and other high-level leaders. The Cyber Bureau is now actively reviewing videos, photos, and statuses shared on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. This stepped-up surveillance follows recent anti-Oli chants during the SAFF Championship final, which the Prime Minister attended. Some posts, including one from YouTuber Ratan Karki, have attracted particular attention for containing violent language. Police have also launched an investigation into YouTuber Ratan Karki, who lives in Japan. Deputy Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki confirmed that the Cyber Bureau is actively investigating and may involve Interpol if needed. | | | TikTok Registers in Nepal, Commits to Local Regulations TikTok has officially registered in Nepal, receiving its registration letter from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT). The platform began the registration process in October, adhering to Nepal’s 2023 Social Media Regulations. The platform has agreed to promote tourism, support digital literacy, contribute to public education, and ensure appropriate language use. The platform also committed to cooperate with Nepal’s Cyber Bureau on criminal investigations. TikTok is the third social media company to register, following Viber and WeChat. The government is urging other platforms, including Facebook and X, to complete the registration process. Simplified KYC Process Through National ID Integration
Banks and financial institutions in Nepal will soon streamline their customer identification process by accessing details from the national identity card database, eliminating the need for repetitive Know Your Customer (KYC) forms. This update, part of the new ‘Prevention of Money Laundering Rules, 2081,’ applies to banks, cooperatives, insurance companies, stock brokers, and similar institutions. According to Rule 3 of the regulations, institutions can access customer identity details electronically from the government’s digital records, provided customers hold a citizenship and national identity card. Consent from customers will be mandatory to use this information. Starlink Pushes for Satellite Internet Service in Nepal
Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, is urging Nepal’s government to create a favorable environment for launching its service. Due to restrictive telecommunications laws, Starlink aims to enter Nepal as a trading company rather than as a traditional internet service provider. Recently, Starlink’s delegation, led by Global Licensing Director Rebecca Skill Hunter, met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and presented a demo of its service, highlighting its suitability for Nepal’s geography. The government has acknowledged Starlink’s request to operate under a “trading business” status and said to be reviewing legal options. This development follows two years of continuous discussions, with Starlink aiming to expand affordable satellite internet in Nepal. Tokha Municipality Issues Notice for Internet and TV Service Providers to Register
Tokha Municipality has announced that all internet and television service providers operating within its area must register with the municipality. This requirement supports the municipality’s cable management action plan, approved during its fourth executive meeting of 2081/082, which aims to organize cables and enhance local infrastructure.
A dedicated cable management task force will oversee this initiative. Service providers have been given a seven-day period from the notice’s publication to complete their registration. Providers failing to register within this timeframe may have their cables and equipment removed without further notice. Unregistered providers are urged to visit the municipality’s office promptly to complete the registration process. | | | Stakeholder Interaction on Key Media Bills
On November 8, 2024, Digital Rights Nepal (DRN), with the support from Norway and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), organized a stakeholder consultation on two significant legislative bills concerning Nepal’s media freedom landscape namely the Mass Communication Bill and the Media Council Bill. The event brought together members of parliament—including from the House of Representatives and National Assembly’s Committee for Legislation Management—as well as media professionals, legal experts, and advocates.
Participants shared valuable insights on how these bills can better support media rights and accountability. MPs emphasized their commitment to thoughtful amendments that align with Nepal’s dedication to a balanced, rights-focused media framework. | | | | 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. | | | |
