Decoding Nepal’s 100-Point Governance Reform Plan: A Digital Rights Review
Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) has published and formally submitted the Government of Nepal its latest analysis, “Decoding Nepal’s 100-Point Governance Reform Plan: A Digital Rights Review.” This review critically examines the Government’s newly introduced reform roadmap through digital rights lens, with emphasis on its digital governance and ICT-related components.
The 100-point roadmap (March 2026), aligned with the agenda of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, places strong emphasis on digital transformation as a means to enhance public service delivery, transparency, and administrative efficiency. Key proposed initiatives include the integration of digital public services, introduction of faceless service delivery mechanisms, implementation of digital identification systems, establishment of real-time grievance redressal platforms, and the adoption of data-driven governance tools. The roadmap further outlines important institutional reforms, including the development of a data protection policy, the establishment of an independent ICT regulator, and the revision of existing e-governance legislation.
Despite the focus and priority, DRN’s review identifies several critical gaps and concerns. The roadmap appears to assume a level of digital readiness that does not fully reflect Nepal’s current socio-economic and infrastructural realities, thereby risking the exclusion of marginalized populations due to limited internet access and low levels of digital literacy. Additionally, the plan lacks a comprehensive cybersecurity framework and does not sufficiently address key issues related to social media governance and platform accountability. Concerns also persist regarding inadequate safeguards for fundamental rights, particularly the protection of privacy and freedom of expression, especially in the context of centralized data systems. Furthermore, the roadmap demonstrates shortcomings in ensuring transparency, meaningful public participation, and coherence with existing policy frameworks. Its ambitious implementation timeline also raises questions regarding feasibility and institutional capacity.
DRN underscores that while the roadmap represents a significant step toward advancing digital governance in Nepal, it requires further strengthening through a more inclusive, rights-based, and coordinated approach. Addressing these gaps will be essential to ensuring that Nepal’s digital transformation meaningfully contributes to democratic governance and fosters public trust.
Full Read at: Decoding Nepal’s 100-Point Governance Reform Plan: A Digital Rights Review – Digital Rights Nepal
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Government Directs All Ads Through State Media: FNJ, Private Media Objects
The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has directed all federal, provincial, and local government bodies to publish and broadcast government advertisements and information only through state-owned media, including Gorkhapatra, Radio Nepal, and Nepal Television. This secretary-level decision, issued on Wednesday, also mandates that payments for advertisements be deposited only into the official bank accounts of the respective state media, with rates and discounts approved solely by them.
The Federation of Nepali Journalists, Nepal Advertising Agencies Association, Media Society, and private media have strongly opposed the decision, warning that it could create a “press censorship” environment and threaten the survival of independent journalism and private media outlets.
Nepal Army Stresses Technology in Redefining National Security
Chief of Army Staff Ashokraj Sigdel highlighted the need to redefine national security in Nepal’s changing geopolitical context, emphasizing the role of technology alongside traditional security measures. He made these remarks at the closing of the two-week SISAN 11 national security training at the Military Command and Staff College, Shivpuri, attended by government officials, security forces, and media personnel.
Countries Move to Protect Children on Social Media
Austria plans to ban children under 14 from using social media to shield them from addictive and harmful content. In similar line, In Switzerland, a survey shows 94% of citizens support stricter protections for children online, with 78% concerned about tech companies’ influence. The Swiss government is preparing legislation to regulate large platforms, following Austria’s lead and global trends toward safeguarding youth. Australia has already set a precedent by banning social media use for children under 16. Its eSafety Commissioner is investigating Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube for non-compliance, with millions of underage accounts deactivated, though some children still bypass age verification.
Nepal Cracks Down on Online Betting Apps
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has ordered the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to shut down the online betting app “Betting App” and related websites within 24 hours. This follows the Cabinet’s Chaitra 13 decision under the 100-point administrative reform plan to stop illegal online gambling and prevent capital flight. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has warned that anyone using, promoting, or operating such platforms, including OneXBet, will face legal action under Section 125 of the Muluki Criminal Code, 2074.
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Mis/disinformation
Rise of Misinformation and Hate Speech on Nepalese Social Media
Nepalese social media continues to witness a surge in misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, particularly during this week marking both April Fool’s and Fact-Checking Day. A viral fake notice claiming a two-day weekend for schools fooled many students, parents, and teachers before being revealed as an April Fool’s prank. Political disinformation is also increasing, including fabricated screenshots falsely alleging that Home Minister Sudhan Gurung warned lawmaker Harka Sampang under the ETA Act, along with misleading claims about arrests and political developments. For instance, a viral video claimed that Gagan Kumar Thapa was laughing following the arrest of KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak; however, fact-checking confirmed that the video was unrelated, demonstrating how content is often taken out of context to mislead audiences.
In another case, a viral image claimed that a protester supporting KP Sharma Oli was brutally beaten by police, showing severe injuries; however, fact-checkers later confirmed the image was AI-generated, highlighting how emerging technologies are being used to spread false narratives. Additionally, old social media posts are being weaponized for character attacks, such as the resurfacing of a five-year-old Facebook post by Asim Shah following his appointment to a constitutional amendment task force. Hate speech and cyberbullying, particularly gender-based abuse, have also intensified. Amisha Parajuli faced vulgar comments, character attacks, and even rape threats after protesting Oli’s arrest, prompting her to file a complaint with the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau.
The continued spread of such harmful content, often driven by political interests, pose serious risks to social cohesion, increase polarization, and impact public trust and democratic norms. These trends highlight the urgent need for stronger digital literacy, responsible platform governance, and effective regulatory responses to protect Nepal’s information ecosystem.
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Opportunity
Opportunity: Accountability Incubator 2026
Do you have an idea or initiative related to digital governance, civic tech, transparency, climate justice, or inclusion, or are you already contributing to a more accountable ecosystem? The Accountability Incubator 2026 offers a unique opportunity for young changemakers to grow their ideas through mentorship, collaboration, and structured support, helping turn vision into real impact. Interested applicants can apply by April 6, 2026, through the following link: https://forms.gle/Y4M79JNhiQmM4SGT8 |
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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.
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