<div dir="ltr">Thank you Alejandro and All for quick suggestions and links.<div> <div>As Shreedeep shared earlier, those journalists are released without filing a case at the competent court. Attorney General, Minister for Home Affairs came to rescue them. However, issue is becoming more complex as there are two schools of thoughts on the application of law. One school of thought comes from Media and bother comes from the state. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Those Journalists were arrested under S.47 of the Electronic Transaction Act, 2006 that criminalizes certain publication over the Internet. The provision of the Act is as follows: </div><div><p class="" style="margin-left:0.5in;text-align:justify">
“If any person publishes or displays any material in the electronic media including computer, internet which are prohibited to publish or display by the prevailing law or which may be contrary to the public morality or decent behavior or any types of materials which may spread hate or jealousy against anyone or which may jeopardize the harmonious relations subsisting among the peoples of various castes, tribes and communities shall be liable to the punishment with the fine not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Rupees or with the imprisonment not exceeding five years or with both.” </p>
</div><div>When we read first part of this Sec., it states "which are prohibited to publish or display by the prevailing law". To read with this Sec. we have and old Libel and Slander Act, 1959. Sec. 3 of Libel and Slander Act, 1959 deals with offline defamation and it criminalizes the act. Under Sec. 3 of Libel and Slander Act, 1959 of Nepal <span style>If a person by way of writing or words or
signs or understandable symbols accuses another person of any charge or
publishes such matter with intent to damage that other person’s character or
knowingly or having reason to believe that it will make such a damage, the
person shall be deemed to have libeled that other person.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Obscenity is another major
excuse to criminalize FOE in general and online in particular in Nepal. There is growing
strictness of government agencies on access to the content specially,
pornographic and defamatory of the nature. Ministry of Home Affairs, issuing a
public notice on 22<sup>nd</sup> October 2010 asked ISPs to stop transmitting or broadcasting or publishing those
contents prohibited by Sec. 47 of Electronic Transaction Act, 2006. The one and only prevailing law that prohibits any
obscene material is<b style> </b>Sec. 2 (c, c1)
of the <span style>Some Public (Crime and
Punishment) Act, 1970 which states:</span></div><div><br></div><div>No person shall commit any of the following acts:</div><p class="" style="margin-left:0.5in;text-align:justify"></p>
<p class="" style="margin-left:1in;text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style>·<span style="font:normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span>To break public peace or to make obscene show by
using obscene speech, word or gesture in public place.</p>
<p class="" style="margin-left:1in;text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style>·<span style="font:normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'">
</span></span></span>To print or publish any obscene materials by
using obscene language or by any word or picture which denotes obscene meaning;
or to exhibit or sell or distribute such obscene publication in public place
other than the purpose of public health or health science;</p>
<p class="" style="text-align:justify">We have Press and Publication Act and Press Council Nepal Act. Council is responsible to issue Code of Conduct for Journalists and implement the same. Thus, Media community claim that Sec. 47 of the Electronic Transaction Act is not applicable as other specific laws are there for the content published by a newspaper. However, another school says, it doesn't matter who wrote the content, if the content is defamatory this is applicable under the Electronic Transaction Act.</p>
<p class="" style="text-align:justify"><br></p><p class="" style="text-align:justify">Another question raised by the event is that, when it is offline Defamation it is very simple imprisonment of 35 days. Whereas ETA imposes upto 5 years imprisonment. What is the practice of other countries ? </p>
<p class="" style="text-align:justify">Suggestions are appreciated. </p><p class="" style="text-align:justify"> <br></p>
</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 8:14 AM, Dr. Alejandro Pisanty Baruch <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:apisan@unam.mx" target="_blank">apisan@unam.mx</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="zoom:1">
<div style="direction:ltr;font-size:10pt;font-family:Courier New">
Norbert, Babu,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I think that the case put forward by Babu Ram Aryal is a good test of what we do and how we think.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Basically I think that the problem - whether saying that a school's students do something untoward is defamation against the school - is not properly an Internet problem. The key lies offline: is it defamation under the country's laws? is it a serious
case in that society's mind? </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If it is indeed a case meriting attention - note taken of the Streisand effect - then the prosecution must be based on applicable, existing law. If the law includes explicitly the Internet then you have a clear-cut case. I assume it's not so (otherwise
Babu wouldn't have written.) </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If a case is filed at all, i.e. if the matter does not "die" soon, lawyers should consider whether use of the Internet for this report makes it worse (e.g. due to anonymity, wide reach, indelibility) or less bad (more like a prank, kiddie stuff) than spreading
it by other means (the press, television, mimeographed leaflets, painting it on walls, writing it in the sky with smoke from an airplane...)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>There is a serious warning here: many countries and subnational jurisdicitons (states, provinces, even counties) are writing or modifying anti-defamation and slander or libel laws as we speak. Some of them are awful - they are written in un-specific terms
and allow for broad interpretations, so they can more easily be used or abused to quash free speech than on actual defamation cases. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>So ISOC chapters may be involved in discussing, modifying or fighting such laws. It is the case for us in Mexico, where one Federal state's legislature has approached anti-cyberbullying law through the defamation angle (defamation is seen as part of cyberbullying
and the most promising one for lawmakers.) </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>This got some very strong opposition within that state and nationally. We did file a brief opinion against it. The governor of that state has vetoed the law and returned it to the legislature with strong arguments in favor of a better law that does not
serve to attack free speech. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>A final note: the general global trend, recommended by many international instances, is to treat defamation only under civil law and not under criminal law. That is a further limit to the abuse of the criminalization of speech and opinions as a means to
exert power and control, while it does seem to leave room enough for people to defend against real defamation and slander. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>OTOH do note that if I understand well, countries like Australia seem to have strong anti-defamation laws with transjurisdictional reach; a really fearsome situation. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. Call one in-country if you are going to act on a legal basis!</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Yours,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Alejandro Pisanty</div>
<div>
<div><br>
<p> </p>
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <br>
Dr. Alejandro Pisanty<br>
Facultad de Química UNAM </font></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:13px"><span style="border-collapse:separate;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font:medium 'Times New Roman';text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:small"><font face="Courier New">Av.
Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico DF Mexico</font></span></span></div>
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<p><span style="border-collapse:separate;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font:medium 'Times New Roman';text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:small"><font face="Courier New"></font></span></span> </p>
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<p><span style="border-collapse:separate;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font:medium 'Times New Roman';text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:small"><font face="Courier New"><a href="tel:%2B52-1-5541444475" value="+5215541444475" target="_blank">+52-1-5541444475</a>
FROM ABROAD </font></span></span></p>
</font>
<p><font face="Courier New"><span style="border-collapse:separate;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font:medium 'Times New Roman';text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:small"><font face="Courier New"><a href="tel:%2B525541444475" value="+525541444475" target="_blank">+525541444475</a>
DESDE MÉXICO </font></span></span><span style="border-collapse:separate;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font:medium 'Times New Roman';text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:small"><font face="Courier New">SMS
<a href="tel:%2B525541444475" value="+525541444475" target="_blank">+525541444475</a> </font></span></span><br>
Blog: <a href="http://pisanty.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://pisanty.blogspot.com</a><br>
LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/pisanty" target="_blank">http://www.linkedin.com/in/pisanty</a><br>
Unete al grupo UNAM en LinkedIn, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/22285/4A106C0C8614" target="_blank">http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/22285/4A106C0C8614</a><br>
Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/apisanty" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/apisanty</a><br>
---->> Unete a ISOC Mexico, <a href="http://www.isoc.org" target="_blank">http://www.isoc.org</a><br>
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . </font></p>
</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size:16px;font-family:Times New Roman">
<hr>
<div style="direction:ltr"><font face="Tahoma" color="#000000"><b>Desde:</b> <a href="mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org" target="_blank">chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org</a> [<a href="mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org" target="_blank">chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org</a>] en nombre de Norbert Klein [<a href="mailto:nhklein@gmx.net" target="_blank">nhklein@gmx.net</a>]<br>
<b>Enviado el:</b> domingo, 23 de junio de 2013 20:57<br>
<b>Hasta:</b> <a href="mailto:chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org" target="_blank">chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org</a>; <a href="mailto:babu@isoc.org.np" target="_blank">babu@isoc.org.np</a><br>
<b>Asunto:</b> Re: [Chapter-delegates] Urgent suggestion<br>
</font><br>
</div><div><div class="h5">
<div></div>
<div>
<div>Thanks for raising this question also on the Chapter Delegates List.
<br>
<br>
Thanks for the first response from Joly pointing to the Streisand effect.<br>
<br>
I hope for further responses, as I think it is important that there is more exchange among Chapters and with ISOC Staff about the different painful interventions by authorities into the freedom and life of Netizens - often with very shaky reasons - as in this
case from Nepal ("brinzal" can also spelled "brinjal" for "eggplants"). <br>
<br>
Apart from our discussions about ITU and PRISM and WCIT which I consider also important, I am always hoping that questions of personal security and integrity of our fellow Internet uses ("The Internet is for everyone") receive also more space in our exchanges
- especially also relating to solidarity activities for Chapters and their environment, from ISOC central and from the ISOC regional offices.<br>
<br>
Norbert Klein<br>
Member of the Executive Committee<br>
ISOC Cambodia Chapter<br>
<br>
=<br>
<br>
On 6/23/2013 12:09 AM, Joly MacFie wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">One thing the authorities should take into consideration is what is known as the Streisand effect. That is that overreaction may only result in further attention, thus bringing further embarassment.
<div><br>
</div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect</a><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 7:42 AM, Babu Ram Aryal <span dir="ltr">
<<a href="mailto:babu@isoc.org.np" target="_blank">babu@isoc.org.np</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<br>
Dear All<br>
We have a twist on FOE over Online in Nepal. Three journalist are arrested. FIR lodged against them by the principal of a college who accused the content of a news online managed by defendants are defamatory.<br>
<br>
The online reported that brinzal, a kind of vegetable, were found in toilet of a women's college. It is also written that brinzals are being used by girls as sex toy to satisfy their sexual emotions.<br>
<br>
Do you think this is defamatory ? Can a college claim it's reputation is defamed? What is practice of governing a news content online, around the world?<br>
<br>
Your suggestions are highly appriciated.<br>
<br>
Thanks.<br>
Sent from my iPhone<br>
Babu Ram Aryal<br>
<br>
President<br>
ISOC Nepal<br>
<a href="tel:%2B977%209851048401" value="+9779851048401" target="_blank">+977 9851048401</a></blockquote>
</div>
<br clear="all">
<div><br>
</div>
-- <br>
---------------------------------------------------------------<br>
Joly MacFie <a href="tel:218%20565%209365" value="+12185659365" target="_blank">
218 565 9365</a> <a href="http://UrlBlockedError.aspx" target="_blank">
Skype:punkcast</a><br>
WWWhatsup NYC - <a href="http://wwwhatsup.com" target="_blank">http://wwwhatsup.com</a><br>
<a href="http://pinstand.com" target="_blank">http://pinstand.com</a> - <a href="http://punkcast.com" target="_blank">
http://punkcast.com</a><br>
VP (Admin) - ISOC-NY - <a href="http://isoc-ny.org" target="_blank">http://isoc-ny.org</a><br>
--------------------------------------------------------------<br>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Advocate Babu Ram Aryal<br>President,<br>Internet Society [ISOC] Nepal Chapter<br>Anamnagar, Kathmandu<br>Nepal <br><br>Cell: +977-9851048401<br>
</div>