Key facts
- Nepal is cracking down on online abuse directed at flood survivors.
Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah has warned of strict action against individuals making insensitive online comments about flood survivors. Police are investigating the origins of these remarks, with offenders facing potential jail time and fines under the Electronic Transactions Act.
The crackdown highlights the growing concern over online harassment and the protection of vulnerable populations during crises, with the Nepalese government taking a firm stance against digital abuse and seeking to hold perpetrators accountable through legal means.
Nepal is implementing a crackdown on online abuse targeting survivors of recent deadly floods, with Prime Minister Balendra Shah vowing "no leniency" for those who "belittle" victims. The prime minister stated on Facebook that individuals making unnecessary remarks or causing further suffering to those in pain are considered criminals. Nepali police have formed a 10-member committee to investigate the origins of these comments, aiming to identify addresses and phone numbers of offenders. Survivors seeking information about missing loved ones and criticizing the pace of rescue efforts have reportedly received hostile remarks online. Under Nepal's Electronic Transactions Act, those found guilty of defamation or harassment via social media could face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to 100,000 Nepalese rupees. Dovan Rai, Executive Director of Body & Data, suggested that some insensitive comments might stem from "rage baiting" or "extremism" sympathetic to the government, contributing to a polarized online dialogue.