KATHMANDU: Social media related cyber crimes and ill practices have been on a rise lately, according to the Metropolitan Crime Division (MCD), Kathmandu.

Issuing a press release, today, MCD pointed out and criticised the trend of using social media and messaging applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Viber, IMO among others to misuse personal posts and information shared by social media users.

The statement reads that attention of the Division had been drawn towards the growing number of social media related cyber crimes through which image of individuals as well as organisations were being tarnished by people involved in such activities.

In this regard, MCD, through the press release, has appealed to the public to not be involved in such illegal activities which are subject to legal action.

According to Electronic Transaction Act (ETA), 2063 BS, persons involved in publishing illegal materials electronically by misusing social media and information obtained thereof would be subject to a fine of up to Rs 200,000, or five-year prison sentence, or both.