Nepal needs data protection law: experts

Kathmandu, Mar. 10

Experts have expressed concerns over the safety of individual’s data and privacy in the digitalisation process.

With the growing use of information and communication technology in trade, finance, education and other areas, chances of the violation of privacy and data safety have increased, they said while speaking at the public dialogue on 'Impact of COVID-19 on financial digitisation: A human rights perspective' organised by Galli Galli, a non-profit organisation.

"We have long been suggesting the government to formulate a law on data protection but it’s falling into the deaf ears," said Tanka Aryal, an expert of digital rights.

He stressed the need for collaboration among the key stakeholders: state, regulator, private sector companies and individual users/consumers.

"The first priority should be to increase the accessibility of technology while the immediate second should be the protection of data, privacy and information," he said. Aryal also said that there should be a comprehensive method for the legal settlement of the cases in the sector.

According to him, the business companies in Nepal have more concentrated on revenue than data safety and protection.

Manager of Everest Bank, Golfutar, Deepa Budhathoki said that the coronavirus pandemic had made a positive impact on the banking sector in terms of technological advancement.

"Mobile banking has increased by about 18 per cent while the number of credit card users has gone up by 280 per cent. It is helping in formalising the economy and making the transactions more transparent and less risky," she said.

However, the lack of financial and technological literacy and unwillingness on the part of some people are creating hurdles in the full optimisation of digital development, she said.

Likewise, Dinesh Dawadi, a lecturer of information systems, said that Nepal needed to promote technology transfer in order to build competitive advantage. "Access to the technology and their use must be equal. A separate policy is needed for the same," he said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 March 2021.