Stakeholders’ suggestions to guarantee human rights in cyber security policy
Stakeholders suggest to guarantee human rights in cyber security policy
Stakeholders working on Internet freedom and digital rights have emphasized the need for cyber security policies and laws to guarantee human rights and freedom of expression.
The conclusion was reached at a stakeholder discussion on ‘National Cyber Security Policy, 2078’ organized on virtual medium on June 7 with the participation of representatives of human rights and freedom of expression organizations, human rights activists, technologists and the business sector.
The Internet Governance Institute (IGI), Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) and Forum for Digital Equality (FDE) and co-organized by Delta Law Firm, Digital Media Foundation, NPSert, CSRI, Media Action Nepal and Nepal Internet Foundation. An event was organized to collect suggestions.
Speaking on the occasion, Advocate Baburam Aryal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Governance Institute, said that the draft was a positive initiative in terms of cyber security in Nepal but needed further discussion as it could not be owned by multi-stakeholders.
Pointing out that the proposed draft is control-oriented, Advocate Aryal said that any cyber security related initiative would be possible only by promoting the rights and not by restricting the civil rights.
Manohar Kumar Bhattarai, chairman of the Internet Governance Institute and former vice-chairman of the High Level Information Technology Commission, said the proposed cyber security policy was intended to control online content in the name of cyber security. However, he said it was not necessary to control online content for cyber security.
Speaking on the occasion, cyber security expert Vivek Rana said that the draft was insufficient for the security of the large data base of government agencies.
He also said that the draft did not address the economic and social issues of the country and how to secure the digital economy, adding that there was a risk of domination of the bureaucracy as it neglected the private sector.
Similarly, Neetu Pandit, chairperson of Sancharika Group, said that the draft was positive as it was aimed at addressing gender based violence.
However, she said the policy should be more sophisticated on the issue of gender access as it focuses more on the protection of computer assets.
She also stressed on the need to guarantee the participation and self-respect of the gender and marginalized communities in the implementation of cyber security policy.
Speaking at the discussion, former Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police Dr. Rajiv Subba said that he found the lack of coherence in the cyber security policy to be a part of the national security policy.
Since the digital economy cannot flourish without cyber security, it is necessary to bring cyber security policy in the right way. Subba stressed.
“Sensitive infrastructure, cyber defense, cyber crime should be addressed by cyber security policy and for this, cyber space of Nepal should be secured if central cyber security authority is formed and implemented by coordinating the prevailing foreign policy, information technology policy, health policy, education policy and other regional policies,” he said. Said.
Speaking on the occasion, KP Dhungana, Founder President of the Online Journalists Association, said that it was unfortunate that policies and laws were enacted in the name of cyber security and control of cyber crime.
He also said that there is no need for the Press Council to take action outside the jurisdiction of Nepal and restrict the freedom of expression.
Rojakiran Basukala, vice-president of the Center for Cyber Security Research and Innovation and deputy director of the Telecommunications Authority of Nepal, said that various international reports put Nepal at risk of cyber attacks.
She said that the incident complaint system should also be included in the cyber security system. Anjani Phunyal, global chief operating officer at Janes Solutions, said the proposed draft did not address the issue of security of information assets in cloud-based data centers.
As the nature of physical information center and cloud-based information center is different, he stressed on the need to adopt a relative policy in it and pointed out the need to classify the data in the draft and adopt a corresponding security policy.
Taranath Dahal, President of Freedom Forum Nepal, Binod Dhakal, former President of Computer Association of Nepal, Bikram Shrestha, President of Nepal Internet Foundation and Anandaraj Khanal, Senior Director of Nepal Telecommunication Authority also reviewed and suggested the proposed policy.
Anil Kumar Dutt, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, said that suggestions were being collected while finalizing the draft and expressed his commitment to finalize the policy by incorporating the suggestions received through the program.
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