Digital Rights in Nepal: Constitutional Basis, Judicial Precedents, and Future Directions
Summary
Nepal’s digital rights debate is being shaped by constitutional guarantees of expression, privacy, and information access, along with Supreme Court precedents on data security and online speech. The article calls for a modern rights-oriented cyber law, stronger data protection, and better coordination among state agencies.
Key Points
- Nepal’s Constitution protects online expression, privacy, and access to information, forming the legal basis for digital rights.
- Supreme Court precedents have limited arbitrary access to biometric data, mobile records, and pre-censorship of online content.
- The Electronic Transactions Act and the Personal Data Protection Act remain central, but gaps in enforcement and comprehensive data protection remain.
- The article urges updated cyber laws, stronger digital literacy, and better coordination among ministries, police, regulators, and courts.
