HoR panel passes ‘restrictive’ IT Bill

The Development and Technology Committee of the House of Representatives today passed the Information Technology Bill ignoring the opposition of Nepali Congress lawmakers in the panel. The bill proposes a severe penalty for an offence against the state and computer hacking. The bill also provisions a fine not exceeding Rs 1.5 million or a jail term not exceeding five years, or both, for posting content on social networking sites that may pose a threat to the country’s sovereignty, security, unity or harmony. The committee proposed to impose a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or six months jail term or both on those found guilty of cyber bullying. The original bill had proposed to punish people guilty of cyber bullying with a fine not exceeding Rs 1 million or jail term not exceeding five years or both. The original bill had only stated that those found guilty of the above-mentioned crimes shall be prosecuted under offense against state laws. For those responsible for deleting or interfering with information stored in somebody’s computer, the committee proposed to increase the jail term from one year to three years.