In brief
Following last month's catastrophic floods, Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has threatened to prosecute those who publicly attack survivors on social media. The government will enforce strict penalties under the Electronic Transactions Act, with fines up to 100,000 rupees or imprisonment up to five years. Police are tracing origins of harassing comments, and a committee is reviewing the online abuse. The move follows criticism from survivors who received hostile replies while calling for quicker rescue efforts. Human‑rights activists warn that hate‑baiting and government‑supportive echo chambers have amplified the problem.
Nepal crack down on online abuse of flood survivors
The prime minister says authorities will enforce strict measures against anyone who publicly criticises or harasses flood survivors on social media, vowing “no leniency” for those who belittle people suffering in the disaster.
Survivors and families who post online to ask for missing relatives have been met with hostile comments and harassment from strangers and, at times, supporters of the government.
Police are tracing the origins of abusive posts to identify addresses and phone numbers. A 10‑member committee has been convened to audit the online abuse.
Under Nepal’s Electronic Transactions Act, a person who defames or harasses another online can face up to five years in prison, a fine up to 100,000 rupees (£490), or both.
Human‑rights advocates warn that “rage baiting” – content designed to incite outrage – and intense political echo chambers are amplifying the problem in digital spaces.
The government’s crackdown comes as the nation struggles to recover from the deadly floods, with several survivors still missing and demands for a faster, more coordinated rescue effort remaining urgent.
