Kathmandu, 22 June 2025 – The Forum for Women, Law, and Development (FWLD) convened an interactive session with journalists to critically examine the Information Technology and Cyber Security Bill, 2025. Held in Kathmandu, the program aimed to foster informed discourse on the Bill's provisions and implications.
Advocate Sabin Shrestha, Executive Director of FWLD, welcomed participants and underscored the importance of balancing technological advancement with rights protection. Advocates Ashankan Malla and Rastra Bimochan Timalsina served as resource persons, presenting a comparative analysis of the Bill alongside the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063 and earlier drafts. They also highlighted concerns from human rights and gender perspectives.
Key Highlights
Progressive Elements: The Bill introduces updated frameworks for cybercrime prevention and digital signature regulation.
Concerns Raised: Experts warned that vague definitions and overlapping criminal provisions could lead to government overreach and suppression of free expression. The Bill's provisions on gender-based cyber violence require more clarity for effective enforcement.
Moderated by Advocate Rojina Shrestha, the session provided a platform for journalists and civil society to voice concerns. Recommendations included refining definitions, eliminating overlapping provisions, and ensuring judicial oversight of surveillance measures.
FWLD committed to compiling these insights into a memorandum for policymakers, advocating for a revised Bill that upholds digital rights, fosters innovation, and ensures accountability.
