Cybersecurity Policy threats privacy of citizens

 Kathmandu, Aug. 10

Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) said that 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 be used to stifle free speech by enabling extensive government control over online content, leading to both censorship and self-censorship, the non-profit organisation working in digital rights area, said in a statement.

“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,” it said.

It released two critical publications addressing pressing issues in Nepal’s digital landscape the other day.

The first publication, created in collaboration with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), offers a comprehensive examination of the National Cybersecurity Policy 2023 and its potential impact on human rights.

Likewise, the second publication, developed in partnership with the Internet Society and the Internet Governance Institute, provides an analysis of the proposed National Internet Gateway (NIG) in Nepal. “The key highlights from these briefing notes emphasise significant risks and concerns,” reads the statement from DRN.

In the briefing note regarding the National Internet Gateway, it has been discussed 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.

It said, “This centralisation of internet control could also facilitate widespread surveillance, jeopardising the privacy and security of users in Nepal. Furthermore, the briefing note explains how the NIG could fragmentise 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 of DRN.

He urged all stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society organisations, and the general public, to engage in constructive dialogue to ensure that these policies protect, rather than undermine, fundamental freedoms.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 August 2024.