Government to introduce bill to regulate social networks

GANDAKI: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has said the government is introducing a bill on the operation and regulation of social networks so that anarchy fuelled in the name of media would be curbed.

At a press conference organised by the Press Chautari Nepal Kaski Chapter today, Minister Gurung, who is also a CPN UML leader, argued that efforts are being made to spread misleading information on the bill. “The bill on social networks is not for control, but for regulation. We have a democratic government. So, democratic values will not be compromised,” he said.

Minister Gurung made it clear that it is imperative to control cybercrime because such activities cannot be favourable to nationality, national independence and unity. “Cybercrime is an emerging threat, requiring support from multiple sides. In the last 10 months alone, over 29,000 complaints relating to cybercrime were registered in police offices,” the Minister added.

He said the Media Council Bill that the government has forwarded would regulate all sorts of media, and that the present bill will be capable of regulating online media.

Minister Gurung, also the government spokesperson, further informed that old laws would be amended and new ones made in the communications sector.