KATHMANDU: The Bill related to Operation, Use and Regulation of Social Networking Sites-2081 has been registered in the Parliament. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology registered the Bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The Ministry said the government presented the bill in the parliament citing it was necessary to formulate laws to make the use of social networking sites systematic, dignified and safe.
The bill registered in the NA reads, “It is necessary to make laws to make the operation and use of social networking sites disciplined, safe and systematic and regulate them making the operators and users of social site platforms responsible and accountable, thereby promote social harmony, cultural tolerance and good governance.”
It is expected that there would be remarkable increase in information safety and privacy of personal details once the new laws are made and implemented.
Similarly, it is said that legal basis would be prepared to improve situation of cyber security and effective implementation of concept of e-governance as well as foreign investment might be increased in IT sector.
Some significant new issues have been incorporated in the proposed laws where company and organization willing to operate social networking sites and platform should acquire license, with some term and conditions to be followed.
Likewise, the bill has provision related to crime committed using social networking sites and punishment, investigation, prosecution, case review and appeal
Companies, firm or organizations wishing to run social media platforms must obtain prior permission. The bill specifies such permit would be valid for two years.
The bill also outlines penalty provisions for operating such platform without permission. The penalty ranges from preventing operation of such platforms to scrapping the permits for those failing to meet compliance standards.
Furthermore, those entities running platforms without permit are liable to fine up to Rs 2.5 million, the bills stipulates.
The Department of Information Technology shall be responsible for issuing, renewing, monitoring, revoking of such permit, the bill clarified.
Also, the social media platform users are not allowed to post any contents that tend to malign someone’s image and reputation, any malicious words or audiovisual contents, trolling or promoting hate speech.
The Bill defines ”hate speech” as contents that incite violence or hatred against any individual, groups or communities or disrupts social harmony, which could be posted, shared, commented, live streamed, reposted, tagged, mentioned and used with hashtag.
Additionally, the Bill addresses the issue of spreading false, misleading and distorted information. The Bill bars dissemination of contents that advertise and promote trade of banned goods. Contents encouraging superstition or adversely impacting public health are also prohibited in social media.
Social media users violating these provisions could be liable to fine up to Rs 500,000. The Bill mandates penalties such as jail term up to 5 years and a fine up to Rs 500,000 or both for those social media users posting contents against the national interest.
Cyber bulling may result in imprisonment for offenders up to 2 years or fine of up to Rs 300,000 or both, according to the bill.
The Bill recognizes cyber bullying as any act of sending, posting, sharing malicious and false words, letters, sentences, symbols, pictures, sketch, audiovisual, signals messages using a digital device connected to the internet with an intention to harass, intimidate, threaten, embarrass, humiliate, defame, spread false information or imitating someone’s voice.
