KATHMANDU, Jan 29: Media Action Nepal (MAN) has raised concerns over the Social Media Bill approved by the Cabinet, warning that it poses a serious threat to free speech and press freedom.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Laxman Datt Pant, a global media rights advocate and executive director of MAN, urged lawmakers to reconsider the bill. He emphasized the need to uphold freedom of speech, which is guaranteed as a fundamental right under Nepal’s Constitution and international treaties ratified by the country.
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Pant pointed out that the bill includes severe penalties, such as fines of up to Rs 10 million and imprisonment for up to five years, which he argued contradict democratic values and the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression. He also criticized the bill’s vague language, particularly terms like “wrong intent” and “content against national interest,” saying they grant authorities excessive power to stifle dissent and critical voices.
As a representative of MAN in the Consultative Network of the Media Freedom Coalition, Pant warned that if the bill is passed in its current form, it would instill fear and promote self-censorship, ultimately restricting the open exchange of ideas essential for a thriving democracy. “The bill’s stringent provisions on identity disclosure and its restrictions on anonymous social media use violate privacy rights and discourage whistleblowers from exposing wrongdoing,” Pant added.
