Nepal is intensifying its efforts to combat online abuse directed at survivors of recent deadly floods. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has stated that authorities will "show no leniency" towards individuals who mock or belittle those experiencing suffering.
This crackdown follows reports of individuals seeking information about missing loved ones and urging for increased search efforts on social media, only to be met with hostile comments. Shah described such remarks as the actions of "criminals."
Nepali police are actively investigating the origins of these comments to identify responsible parties. The effort includes the formation of a 10-member committee tasked with examining the online remarks.
The Electronic Transactions Act in Nepal outlines penalties for defamation and harassment online, including potential jail sentences of up to five years and fines of up to 100,000 Nepali rupees (approximately $662 USD or £490 GBP), or both.
One woman, whose brother has been missing since the floods, shared with the BBC that her criticisms of the slow search and rescue operations attracted numerous