9th October 2024, Kathmandu
Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) has conducted an in-depth analysis of the proposed Social Media (Usage and Regulation) Bill 2080 and presented the findings to the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Mr. Prithvi Subba Gurung.
DRN’s In-Depth Analysis of Nepal
The analysis, led by DRN’s Executive Director Advocate Santosh Sigdel, highlights significant concerns surrounding the bill’s vague restrictions on social media content, criminal defamation clauses, platform registration mandates, content takedown policies, and the criminalization of anonymous or pseudonymous users.
In its analysis, DRN grounds its critique of Nepal’s Constitution, international human rights standards, and feedback from key stakeholders. The report calls attention to potential threats to civil liberties if the bill is passed in its current form, offering recommendations for regulating social media while upholding free expression and privacy rights.
The report was officially submitted in the presence of Ms. Radhika Aryal, Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
DRN urges the government to adopt a rights-based approach that aligns with both domestic and international legal frameworks to ensure social media regulations promote safety without undermining free speech.
DRN’s advocacy efforts are supported by global organizations such as Internews, Internet Society, EngageMedia, and Access Now. The full analysis can be accessed through DRN’s website, where individuals and organizations can join the movement for effective and rights-respecting social media regulation in Nepal.
Download: DRN’s In-Depth Analysis of Nepal Social Media Bill 2080