Kathmandu, April 1

The IT bill is crucial for controlling cyber crime in the country said Gokul Baskota, minister for Communications and Information Technology at a meeting of a sub-committee under the House of Representatives today.

The minister was speaking at the meeting of a sub-panel formed under the parliamentary Development and Technology Committee to discuss the Information Technology Bill.

The sub-panel will hold clause-wise discussion with the concerned stakeholders.  Moreover, it will hold discussion with lawmakers who had registered the motion of amendments to the bill.

During the meeting, the minister said the IT bill was brought not to control social media but to regulate it.

“The IT bill will look into the misuse of social  medial and the issue of cyber crime,” he said explaining how people are misusing  social media to defame dignitaries such as the president and prime  minister due to lack of a strict regulation.

Citing police records he also said that social media had become bullying platforms and that especially women were the victims of such bullies. Besides curbing criminal activities, the bill will also facilitate the use of digital signature and e-payments informed the minister.

Cyber crimes are on the rise due to the misuse of  social media and the culprits are going scot-free due to lack of a cyber  law, said the minister.

Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube should register themselves in Nepal as  companies, according to the minister.

“They have undergone registration in many countries, so why not in Nepal?” he questioned. He also clarified that social media users need not panic as their registration won’t affect users.

The bill is also pertinent because social media companies are making billions in the country, but do not pay tax to the government.

“The companies can repatriate the profit but they are obliged to pay tax,” he said.

A total of 27 lawmakers have registered for nine amendments to the bill. The committee is expected to come up with a final proposal within a month.