Kathmandu, April 29 -- The Ministry of Information and Communication issued a notice last week warning media outlets that publishing 'unverified content' could invite action under cybercrime laws.

Soon after, the Nepali Army released a similar statement, without citing laws, cautioning that it was 'regularly monitoring baseless information and expressions' targeting military leadership and that those responsible would be 'brought to law'.

To many observers, these statements signal a growing tendency of state institutions to invoke cyber laws in ways that risk curbing freedom of expression. Information technology expert Dovan Rai describes such warnings as 'a threat directed at citizens'.

"Such statements strike at the spirit of democra...