KATHMANDU, Jan. 17 -- The Amnesty International (AI) has asked Nepal's parliament to amend the Information Technology (IT) bill in conformity with the international standards and ensure that the law is not used to criminalize the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression.
Issuing a press statement Thursday the rights organization said the proposed IT bill would empower the government to arbitrarily censor content online, including on social media, and punish offenders with up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1.5 million. Nepal government is facing criticism in recent days for introducing anti-press freedom bills.
The IT Bill is one of three proposed pieces of legislation that use vague and overbroad clauses to un...