Government Signed Agreement with The Gen Z: Digital Rights Prioritized After more than three months of negotiations, the Gen Z leaders and the interim government formally signed an agreement on 10 December 2025 aimed at institutionalizing the achievements of the protest. The signed document officially recognizes the Gen Z protest as a people’s movement and has been published in Nepal Gazette. The agreement consists of ten provisions, one of which specifically addresses freedom of expression and digital rights. Point 8 affirms commitments related to freedom of expression and digital freedoms. Sub-point 8.1 states that the government will ensure the legal, physical, and technical infrastructure necessary to prevent arbitrary, unlawful regulation, prohibition, or biased censorship of online expression, information flow, and digital communication. Sub-point 8.2 further provides that legal, physical, and technical safeguards will be strengthened to prevent illegal surveillance and the misuse of citizens’ digital data by the state or third parties. The internet and the broader digital ecosystem have become central platforms for expression, communication, and access to information in Nepal. The inclusion of these commitments in the agreement underscores the sensitivity and importance of digital rights issues and reflects their recognition by both the Gen Z leaders and the government. The interim government’s acceptance of these provisions marks a positive step toward strengthening the protection of digital rights and freedoms in Nepal. | | | | NRB Releases Draft AI Guidelines for Responsible Use in the Financial Sector
As the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) grows across Nepal’s banking and financial institutions, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued a draft Artificial Intelligence Guidelines to promote responsible, transparent, and ethical AI use. The central bank has invited feedback, proposing that institutions using AI establish a strong regulatory framework and form a dedicated or cross-disciplinary AI steering committee.
The draft aims to encourage AI innovation while addressing risks to financial stability, fairness, and consumer protection. It requires banks to classify AI systems based on risk, such as high risk, broad impact, or sensitive data use, and mandates board-level approval when developing or acquiring AI technologies.
The draft requires AI models to undergo mandatory testing for accuracy, fairness, and transparency, alongside strong data governance, regular cybersecurity audits, and compliance with privacy laws. Banks must clearly disclose AI use, ensure customers can opt out of data processing, and continuously monitor AI systems while reporting incidents and submitting annual updates to NRB. Feedback on the draft is due by 30 December 2025. ECN Releases Draft Code of Conduct for 2026 House of Representatives Election
On 16 November 2025, the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) published the draft code of conduct for the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for 5 March 2026. The draft outlines a clear do’s and don’ts for political parties, voters, civil society organizations (CSOs), bureaucrats, and international NGOs. It also includes provisions related to the use of social media and dissemination of content on electronic platforms both before and during the election period. The ECN has invited stakeholders to submit their suggestions and feedback on the draft code within the specified period. Mobile Broadband Subscription Reached 26.8 Million in Nepal
Mobile broadband subscription in Nepal reached 26.8 million by the end of Ashoj 2082 (mid-October 2025), according to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. This marks an annual increase of over 3 million subscriptions compared to the same period last fiscal year. Nepal Telecom leads with 15 million mobile broadband subscribers, followed by Ncell with 11.78 million subscribers. The mobile broadband market in Nepal has continued to grow, driven largely by rising 4G adoption. Australia Enforces World’s First Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Australia’s ban on social media use for children aged 16 and under came into effect on December 10, marking the world’s first nationwide restriction of its kind. The law requires platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and X to take “reasonable steps” to block underage users, deactivate existing accounts, and prevent new ones. The government argues the ban will protect children’s mental health and help parents manage online risks, though tech companies have criticized it as ineffective and potentially harmful. Non-compliance could bring fines of up to AUD 49.5 million. | | DRN Activities Advancing Journalism in the AI Era: Expert Conference on AI in Journalism Curriculum As AI continues to transform journalism through enhanced fact-checking, data-driven reporting, and improved accessibility, it also presents real challenges including misinformation, ethical risks, transparency issues, and widening digital divides. In this context, DRN organized the “Expert Conference on AI in Journalism Curriculum”, on December 9, 2025, as part of our regional initiative to strengthen journalism education in the age of AI. Supported by UNESCO Office in Kathmandu and held in collaboration with partner universities from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh, the conference served as an important platform for shared learning and collaborative curriculum development. The sessions brought forward rich discussions on the opportunities and challenges posed by AI in South Asian media ecosystems. Participants engaged deeply in evaluating draft curricula, identifying gaps, and developing recommendations that will guide the finalization of curriculum. We sincerely thank our distinguished speakers, academic partners, media professionals and all the participants whose contributions will shape the final version of the curriculum. | | | | Addressing Online Gender-Based Violence: Youth-Led Solutions for Safer Digital Spaces
Digital Rights Nepal, in collaboration with Break The Stigma 4.0, marked International Human Rights Day by organizing a focused session on “Countering Online GBV: Safety, Solidarity, and Solutions” at Nepal Law Campus under Tribhuvan University as part of World Lex Café.
The workshop created a space for law students to critically examine the growing issue of online gender-based violence (OGBV), which continues to disproportionately impact women, marginalized communities, and activists.
Participants engaged in interactive activities to identify various forms of OGBV, analyze existing legal and policy gaps, and work through realistic case studies to develop legal and advocacy strategies. The session concluded with solution-design exercises, encouraging students to propose youth-led initiatives for safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the organizing team of Break The Stigma 4.0 for this meaningful collaboration. | | Celebrating Human Rights Day 2025 with the theme “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials”
In this period of turbulences and unpredictability, where many feel a growing sense of insecurity, disaffection and alienation, the theme of Human Rights Day is to reaffirm the values of human rights and show that they remain a winning proposition for humanity.
#OurEverydayRights #HumanRightsDay #UDHR |  | | | 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. | | | | |
