Does your facebooking offend?

KATHMANDU, Oct 23: Have you intentionally or unintentionally posted or shared disturbing pictures, defaming political leaders and other public figures in internet media including social network sites? Beware, you might face five years in jail and Rs 100,000 in fine.

Concerned over the growing trend of spreading malice through insulting sketches and cartoons of the country´s leaders and other public figures in recent months, the Home Ministry has warned of legal action against those involved in broadcasting and transmitting material that violate ´public decency and courtesy´ through internet media including social network sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Home Ministry spokesperson Jaya Mukunda Khanal said display, transmission and broadcast of such materials has been prohibited by the Electronic Transaction Act 2063 BS. “Our move comes as part of the state´s social responsibility to curb such acts, as per the laws of the land,” he said.

Anyone transmitting or broadcasting such material is liable to Rs 100,000 in fine or five-years in jail or both under Article 47 of the Electronic Transaction Act 2063.

Spokesperson Khanal said the move came after a three-month exercise to curb this ill practice that spreads social malice.

A press statement issued by the ministry on Friday said it has come to its notice that vulgar material that breaches public decency and courtesy is found being transmitted by internet and electronic media. “The broadcast, display, sale and transmission of such material has been prohibited as they spread ill in society and also promote criminal activities,” added the statement.

The ministry has asked one and all to provide information relating to such crime, through e-mail or written notification. According to the press statement, those wanting to provide information of such crimes through e-mail can reach regulatory authorities at siteinfo@nta.gov.np or info@nepalpolice.gov.np or info@moha.gov.np or moicgon@ntc.net.np or apf.securitydivision@gmail.com .

Likewise, the ministry has requested that written information about such crime be sent to the Peace and Security Division at the Home Ministry, the Ministry of Information and Communications, Nepal Telecom Authority and Nepal Police Headquarters.

Social network sites, particularly Facebook, have recently drawn media headlines in various South Asian countries and elsewhere for all the wrong reasons.

In May, Bangladesh temporarlily blocked access to Facebook after satiric images of political leaders and anti-Islamic content about Prophet Hazrat Muhammad were found uploaded on facebook. The move came shortly after Pakistan invoked a similar ban on the site for carrying offensive content.

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