12 August 2024, Kathmandu
“Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) releases critical analyses of Nepal’s National Cybersecurity Policy 2023 and the proposed National Internet Gateway, highlighting significant risks to privacy, free speech, and internet freedom.”
DRN Briefing Notes on Nepal’s
The second publication, developed in partnership with the Internet Society and the Internet Governance Institute, provides an in-depth analysis of the proposed National Internet Gateway (NIG) in Nepal. The key highlights from these briefing notes emphasize significant risks and concerns.
The National Cybersecurity Policy 2023 raises serious issues, including threats to privacy due to increased surveillance and data collection without adequate safeguards, potentially infringing on the privacy rights of Nepali citizens. Additionally, the policy could stifle free speech by enabling extensive government control over online content, leading to both censorship and self-censorship.
The proposed establishment of a centralized National Internet Gateway (NIG) is seen as a direct threat to the free flow of information, with the potential for increased censorship and surveillance.
In the briefing note regarding the National Internet Gateway, the publications discuss how the NIG could restrict internet freedom by allowing the government to filter and control digital content, limiting access to global information, and creating a more isolated internet environment.
This centralization of internet control could also facilitate widespread surveillance, jeopardizing the privacy and security of users in Nepal. Furthermore, the briefing note explains how the NIG could fragmentize the Internet.
These publications are essential resources for understanding the potential impacts of current policy proposals on digital rights and internet governance in Nepal, says Advocate Santosh Sigdel, Executive Director, Digital Rights Nepal.
He further urges all stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society organizations, and the general public, to engage in constructive dialogue to ensure that these policies protect, rather than undermine, fundamental freedoms.
DRN Briefing Notes on Nepal’s National Cybersecurity Policy