NTA alerts subscribers of disinformation on curfew and emergency during Dashain

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has appealed to its subscribers to be aware of the false and misleading Short Message Service (SMS) that were doing rounds lately using various networks of the mobile services providers in the country. Issuing a notice here today, the telecommunications regulatory body of the country, said that its serious attention was drawn towards the misleading and false information that were being circulated in SMS, social networking sites and social media that the government was considering imposing a curfew or issue a state of emergency due to alarmingly increasing COVID-19 cases in the country.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has already refuted the disinformation surrounding a curfew and emergency as reported in SMS and social media. The Ministry had also instructed the telecommunication service providers to remain on high alert to curb dissemination of such false messages.

The NTA has warned a stern action against those found spreading the false messages. It also cited a provision in Telecommunication Act- 2053 BS (1997 AD) which states-“If a person misuses or unauthoritatively uses the Telecommunications Service or causes loss or damage to any property related to Telecommunications Service, the Authority will recover amounts equal to the loss from the person and may impose a fine equal to the loss.”