Nepal Introduces Stringent Social Media Bill to Combat Fake News and Online Abuse
Kathmandu – Nepal’s government has tabled a comprehensive social media bill in the National Assembly, aiming to regulate online platforms and curb the spread of misinformation, deepfakes, and various forms of online abuse. The proposed legislation introduces a range of penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment, for individuals and organizations found in violation of its provisions. The bill seeks to address growing concerns regarding the misuse of social media for spreading harmful content, inciting violence, and damaging reputations. It also aims to establish a framework for holding social media companies accountable for the content shared on their platforms.
The bill’s core focus revolves around combating the proliferation of fake news and deepfakes. Creating or using fake profiles to disseminate false information could result in up to three months imprisonment and a fine of up to 50,000 Nepali rupees. Sharing information deemed harmful to national interests carries a significantly harsher penalty of up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to 1.5 million Nepali rupees. The bill further stipulates increased penalties for public officials and those holding state benefits found guilty of such offenses. Furthermore, individuals involving children in these activities face an additional year of imprisonment.
The proposed legislation also tackles various forms of online abuse, including the sharing of obscene content, cyberstalking, hacking, phishing, and sextortion. Posting or sharing obscene material could lead to three months imprisonment and a fine of up to 50,000 Nepali rupees. Spreading obscene content or false information with malicious intent can result in up to two years imprisonment and a fine of up to 300,000 Nepali rupees. Similarly, creating and disseminating deepfake videos carries the same penalty. Deepfakes are defined as content created using artificial intelligence to manipulate a person’s likeness for malicious purposes.
The bill outlines a range of penalties for other cyber offenses. Cyberstalking, defined as making false accusations, surveillance, and privacy violations using internet technology, is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of 500,000 Nepali rupees. Hacking someone’s social media account and phishing scams both carry a potential penalty of up to three years imprisonment and a 1.5 million Nepali rupee fine. Similarly, sextortion, or extortion through social media, faces the same penalties.
Beyond individual users, the bill also targets social media companies, requiring them to obtain government approval to operate in Nepal. Companies allowing the use of their platforms for activities such as promoting anti-national views, defamation, privacy violations, or concealing user identities face fines ranging from 2.5 million to 10 million Nepali rupees. Individual users who fail to comply with legal requirements could be fined up to 500,000 Nepali rupees.
The bill emphasizes combating hate speech and online harassment. Spreading hate speech, defined as content inciting violence or hatred against individuals or groups, is punishable by a fine of 500,000 Nepali rupees. Similarly, spreading false information or distorting facts can incur the same penalty. The legislation provides for victims to seek compensation from offenders, but claims must be filed within three months of becoming aware of the offense. The bill’s introduction signifies a significant step towards regulating Nepal’s digital landscape and addressing the growing challenges posed by the widespread use of social media. However, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on freedom of expression and the practicalities of enforcing such comprehensive legislation.