Dear Readers, As we bid farewell to 2024, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible community and collaborators. Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our advocacy for digital rights, and we are deeply appreciative.
Throughout 2024, your backing propelled our mission forward, and we eagerly anticipate continuing this journey together in the year ahead. Reflecting on our shared accomplishments, we offer our warmest wishes for a New Year brimming with positivity, shared victories, and strengthened partnerships.
Thank you for being an integral part of Digital Rights Nepal. Here’s to a 2025 filled with continued success, growth, and steadfast advocacy for digital rights. Happy New Year 2025! | | | | As 2024 comes to a close, Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) reflects on a year of significant milestones. From policy advocacy to community empowerment, DRN has led efforts across Nepal on key digital rights issues, including social media regulation, cybersecurity, AI governance, and data protection. Through consultations, publications, and discussions, DRN has influenced policy processes while safeguarding individual rights in an evolving digital landscape. Below is a brief overview of DRN’s activities in 2024: | | Policy Advocacy Social Media Regulation
On January 5, 2024, DRN hosted a stakeholder discussion on the “Social Media (Usage and Regulation) Bill, 2080,” engaging civil society, journalists, lawyers, and academics to assess the bill through a rights-based lens. Collaborating with 34 organizations, DRN submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT), outlining 14 key concerns and proposed amendments. A follow-up interaction on November 15, 2024, with Members of Parliament emphasized the bill’s implications for freedom of expression, privacy, and human rights. Mass Media Legislation
On February 28, 2024, DRN organized consultations on the Mass Communication Bill, 2080, and the Media Council Bill, 2080, soliciting feedback from civil society and media professionals. A follow-up session on November 8, 2024, with parliamentarians and experts refined the bills, aligning them with Nepal’s media freedom commitments. Cybersecurity and IT Bill
On August 8, 2024, DRN discussed the National Cybersecurity Policy 2023, focusing on its impact on privacy and free expression, particularly the National Internet Gateway (NIG). On November 15, 2024, DRN hosted a session on the Information Technology and Cybersecurity Bill, engaging stakeholders to address its implications for fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, right to privacy, and access to information. AI Regulation and Governance
On August 9, 2024, DRN convened a multi-stakeholder discussion on Nepal’s AI Concept Paper, addressing privacy, ethics, and innovation concerns. A follow-up session on November 29, 2024, with members of parliament and other stakeholders, focused on human rights and the need for ethical AI frameworks. Furthermore, on December 13, 2024, DRN, in collaboration with Alliance Française Kathmandu, hosted a panel discussion on AI’s potential and challenges in Nepal to discuss innovation, industry growth, ethics, human rights, and AI-related laws, highlighting its impact on Nepal’s future. Data Protection
On December 20, 2024, DRN organized a workshop titled “Data Protection in Nepal: Assessing Legal Frameworks and Addressing Gaps.” The event brought together lawmakers, legal experts, and civil society representatives to discuss the state of data protection in Nepal. The session underscored the inadequacies in the current legal framework and emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive legislation to safeguard citizens’ personal data and privacy. | | | Capacity-Building Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) had an impactful year in 2024, focusing on empowering youth, students, and human rights advocates across Nepal through comprehensive capacity-building initiatives. The organization proudly implemented two flagship programs that reached diverse communities, fostering digital literacy and promoting safe online practices. Digital Rights School Across Nepal
In 2024, DRN conducted its flagship Digital Rights School (DRS) program across all seven provinces of Nepal, training 210 youth as digital rights advocates between May and September. Supported by the Nepal-U.S. Alumni Network (NUSAN) and the U.S. Embassy in Nepal, these two-day workshops provided participants with essential skills in digital literacy, safe online practices, and a thorough understanding of digital rights and responsibilities. The program culminated in the establishment of Digital Rights Advocates Networks in each province, enabling participants to carry forward advocacy and literacy efforts within their communities. These networks continue to promote digital rights and foster digital literacy in their respective regions. Digital Safety and Hygiene Awareness Program
In 2024, Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) reached over 1,200 students and youth through its Digital Safety and Hygiene Awareness Program, focusing on critical aspects of responsible navigation in the digital landscape. The program featured interactive sessions that equipped participants with practical knowledge on cyber safety, digital hygiene, and safeguarding their online presence. DRN conducted school-level sessions in over 10 community and private schools, engaging students from grades 9 to 12 in Kathmandu, Chitwan, and other regions. Collaborative initiatives with organizations such as Amnesty Nepal, Samaanta Foundation, and Asia Centre further amplified the program’s impact. To promote inclusivity, DRN also organized specialized workshops for marginalized groups, including the queer community, empowering them with essential digital safety awareness and skills.
This initiative empowered participants with essential skills, from recognizing cyber threats to understanding cyber laws and reporting mechanisms, fostering a generation of responsible and informed digital citizens. | | Collaborations In 2024, Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) was actively involved in numerous key collaborations to advance digital rights and literacy in Nepal. In January, DRN facilitated a Stakeholders’ Consultation Information Integrity on digital platforms, which brought together diverse stakeholders to discuss the UN Secretary General’s Policy Brief and its impact on digital safety. DRN also partnered with Sipalu Sister, a platform offering life skills training to Nepali women, to develop content on online privacy, rights, and cybercrime. DRN co-hosted the Women in Data Conference on March 5, addressing gender disparities in data and technology. Additionally, DRN collaborated with the NGO Federation of Nepal and the Youth Initiative for International Youth Day, promoting digital rights for youth empowerment. Further strengthening its collaborations, DRN partnered with the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) to monitor internet censorship and network disruptions in Nepal. DRN also formed a partnership with TikTok, contributing expertise to the platform’s community guidelines, focusing on cultural context and critical incident reporting. In June, DRN coordinated the inaugural meeting of the Digital Rights Sub-Group under the EU Working Group on Human Rights Defenders, addressing issues such as disinformation, freedom of expression, and online hate speech. DRN participated in the global discussions on encryption at the Global Encryption Summit, advocating for judicial support to safeguard encryption and digital rights in South Asia. The organization’s regional presence continued with its participation in DRAPAC 2024 and APrIGF 2024 in Taipei, as well as its active role in the Global Voices Summit in December. In June, DRN partnered with the Digital Media Foundation for the National Summit on Artificial Intelligence, discussing AI’s integration in public services in Nepal. Furthermore, DRN led a session on Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence during the 16 Days of Activism campaign and featured in the AccountabiliTEA Podcast’s “Youth Takeover Series” on digital rights and freedom of speech. Lastly, DRN participated in the Digital Safety Summit organized by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) and TikTok, focusing on regulatory guidelines and safety measures for marginalized communities. | | | Knowledge Production In 2024, Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) made significant progress in advancing digital literacy and advocating for digital rights through the release of impactful resource materials. Digital Rights and Safety Handbook
A key milestone was the launch of the Digital Rights and Safety Handbook, a comprehensive guide aimed at empowering individuals, educators, policymakers, and advocates to navigate the complexities of the digital age. It addresses critical topics such as online freedom of expression, privacy, data protection, access to information, internet governance, and cybersecurity, offering practical insights to enhance digital literacy and ensure safer online practices. Policy Briefs on Cybersecurity and Internet Governance
DRN released two critical policy briefs addressing key issues in Nepal’s digital landscape. In collaboration with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), DRN examined the National Cybersecurity Policy 2023, highlighting concerns about increased surveillance, privacy risks, and threats to free speech. Additionally, in partnership with the Internet Society and the Internet Governance Institute, DRN analyzed the proposed National Internet Gateway (NIG) provision, warning of potential risks to internet freedom, censorship, and privacy. Briefing Note on Social Media (Usage and Regulation) Bill 2080
DRN released an in-depth analysis of the Social Media (Usage and Regulation) Bill 2080, addressing issues such as vague content regulation, criminal defamation, platform registration, and the criminalization of anonymity. Presented to Hon. Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, the briefing offered recommendations to align the bill with Nepal’s Constitution and international human rights standards. Engaging Through Newsletters and Infographics
DRN published 52 weekly newsletters in 2024, including the landmark 100th edition of Digital Rights Weekly. These newsletters spotlighted digital rights issues, laws, and policies while sharing ICT-related opportunities, DRN’s engagements, and advocacy efforts. Complementing this, DRN created visually engaging infographics on topics like content regulation laws, cybersecurity rankings, cyber hygiene, child rights in digital spaces, and encryption, providing concise, accessible tools to raise public awareness on critical digital issues.
Through these publications and initiatives, DRN has significantly contributed to enhancing digital literacy, promoting awareness of digital rights, and advocating for policy reforms to uphold fundamental freedoms in 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. | | | |
