Journalists’ Association Protests Bill Threatening Civil Rights in Kathmandu

The Kathmandu branch of the Nepal Journalist Association has raised concerns about the Social Media Operation, Use, and Management Bill registered in the National Assembly by the government. The Secretary of the branch, Ramesh Kumar Bohora, issued a statement on Wednesday expressing that the provisions outlined in the bill could infringe on citizens’ right to be informed and could potentially restrict the scope of democracy.

The government’s intentions to broaden the scope of Press Freedom under the guise of regulating social media have been made evident. The bill includes provisions that could lead to legal action against journalists for sharing news on social media platforms without proper verification and evidence.

The strong opposition from the Kathmandu branch of the association highlights the potential implications of the bill on communication workers and media outlets who publish and broadcast news based on facts and evidence on social media platforms. This move has raised concerns about the possibility of attracting legal repercussions for journalists and media outlets.

Opinion from Ramesh Khatri, representative of Kansai Nepal News: Ramesh Khatri believes that while regulations are necessary to ensure responsible journalism, any laws that could potentially hinder press freedom and citizen’s right to information should be carefully scrutinized. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between regulation and safeguarding the fundamental principles of democracy and freedom of expression.


Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: January 29, 2025 7:03 pm