The bill aims to impose a severe penalty for social media misuse and computer hacking.<\/p>\n
Key Proposals of the Information Technology (IT) Bill:<\/h2>\nOffenses & Punishments<\/h3>\n
1) Posting content on social media sites that may pose a threat to the sovereignty, security, unity or harmony of the country: \u00a0Fine up to Rs. 1.5 million or jail term up to five years or both<\/strong><\/p>\n 2) Found guilty of cyberbullying: Fine up to Rs. 50,000 or 6-months jail term or both<\/strong><\/p>\n 3) Deleting or interfering with information stored in somebody\u2019s computer: \u00a0Three (3) years jail term<\/strong><\/p>\n The bill facilitates the Department of Information Technology with the authority to impose excessive restrictions on social platforms and increase surveillance on personal data.<\/p>\n The tabling of the bill led to a tussle between House of Representatives (HoR) and Nepali Congress lawmakers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n NC member Ram Bahadur Bista said that the bill is against the people\u2019s freedom of expression and opinion.<\/p>\n He exclaimed that the bill is bad for democracy and against the spirit of constitution.<\/p>\n Executive Director of Freedom Forum Taranath Dahal said that the bill has 0-12 clauses that restricted the freedom of expression.<\/p>\n He further expressed his fear that the HoR will try to pass other restrictive bills ignoring the opposition lawmaker\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cWith this bill, the ruling party will have unfair advantage to suppress the voice of people using social media sites to express their dissatisfaction on the governmental works,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Nepal IT Bill 2019 will replace the prevailing Electronic Transaction Act, 2006.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Pratinidhi Sabha has passed the ‘Information Technology (IT) Bill‘ amid heated exchanges with the opposition…<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Nepal](\"https:\/\/www.nepalisansar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/nepal-pratinidhi-sabha-passes-bill.jpg\" "\\"Nepal")
<\/p>\n![\"Information](\"https:\/\/www.nepalisansar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/nepal-data-protection-IT-bill-2019.jpg\" "\\"Information")
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