Digital Rights Weekly/ Year 3 Issue 46

Nov 15, 2024

Controversy Surrounds PCN’s Push for Social Media Regulation
The Press Council Nepal (PCN) issued a statement on November 12, calling on social media users to prioritize accuracy and accountability in their content. The statement emphasized that PCN is actively monitoring social media platforms, both those affiliated with media organizations and those that are not. For media-associated social media accounts, PCN is taking actions under its Code of Conduct. Cases involving social media accounts not affiliated with media are being referred to the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau.
Civil society groups and media experts have raised concerns about PCN’s move, arguing that the council lacks the legal authority to regulate social media platforms since Nepal’s current laws do not grant it jurisdiction over social media content.
This development highlights the urgent need for digital regulations in Nepal that safeguard privacy and freedom of expression while balancing public safety, national security, and public order. Clear guidelines could help delineate the responsibilities of different authorities, reducing regulatory confusion and aligning social media oversight with democratic principles and the rights of Nepalese citizens.

Challenges Stall Nepal’s National Cyber Security Center
Nearly a year after its establishment, Nepal’s National Cyber Security Center still lacks a legal foundation, adequate staff, and a dedicated office. Currently, it operates from a flat in the old Home Ministry building at Singha Durbar, with only six out of the approved 13 staff. The center’s legal framework is also stalled. Though a draft bill has been prepared by MoCIT, it has yet to reach the Council of Ministers, with no timeline for parliamentary approval. Meanwhile, the center operates with just five computers and relies on data from the Integrated Data Management Center for basic monitoring. Established for 24-hour cybersecurity monitoring, the center faces serious constraints without a proper legal mandate, infrastructure, or resources.

Government Petitioned Against NID Interim Order
The government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a review of its interim order that temporarily halted the mandatory requirement of national identity cards for accessing government services. The petition came after the Supreme Court issued a stay on the government’s decision to make the identity card compulsory for receiving social security allowances and other government services. On August 23, 2024, a division bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Til Prasad Shrestha had imposed a temporary stay on the NID requirement.

PCN Blacklists Media Outlets for Violating Code of Conduct
The Press Council Nepal (PCN) has blacklisted four media houses for breaching its code of conduct, namely Trinetrapost Weekly, Yoho Television, Koshipost.com, and Khojtalaline.com. Additionally, seven other media outlets are under special monitoring for further investigation. Additionally, PCN has referred one YouTube channel to the Cyber Bureau for investigation and is monitoring several social media platforms for violations.

The Guardian Ceases Posting on Elon Musk’s X
The Guardian has announced it will no longer post content on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, due to concerns over “disturbing content,” including far-right conspiracy theories and racism. The news organization, which has over 80 accounts and 27 million followers on the platform, stated that the benefits of being on X no longer outweigh the negatives, especially after observing how the platform’s coverage of the US presidential election highlighted these issues.

IPU Assembly Adopted AI and Ethics Resolutions
At the 149th IPU Assembly in Geneva, parliamentarians from around 130 countries adopted a landmark resolution on Artificial Intelligence (AI), urging governments to develop strong legal frameworks to mitigate risks to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The resolution calls for measures to combat AI-generated hate speech, deepfakes, and content manipulation while ensuring accountability and transparency in AI deployment.

Conference

“The Color of Surveillance: Surveillance / Resistance”
“Color of Surveillance: Surveillance / Resistance” is happening in Washington, D.C. on November 18, 2024. Participants can join online. The event, started by the Center on Privacy & Technology, puts racial and economic justice at the center of conversations about digital era surveillance.
Register: The Color of Surveillance: Surveillance / Resistance

Stakeholder Interacted on Social media Bill and IT and Cybersecurity Bill
On 15 November 2024, Digital Rights Nepal (DRN), with support from Norway and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), hosted an interaction program focused on the Social Networks (Use and Regulation) Bill and the Information Technology and Cyber Security Bill. The event brought together parliamentarians from the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, as well as media professionals, legal experts, and advocates to discuss the potential impact of these bills on Nepal’s digital rights and cybersecurity framework.
The event highlighted key insights shared by participants on how the bills could strengthen digital rights protections and enhance cybersecurity measures. A central focus was on safeguarding fundamental digital rights, including freedom of expression and the right to privacy, promoting a safer online environment, and fostering innovation in the tech industry. The program was a key step in shaping digital policies that prioritize human rights and address emerging challenges in the digital space.

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.

This publication has been produced with financial support from Norway. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Digital Rights Nepal and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway.