Report on Internet Governance Capacity Survey Nepal 2016

1 | P a g e Report on Internet Governance Capacity Survey, Nepal, 2016: Shreedeep Rayamajhi


Internet Governance Capacity Survey, Nepal, 2016

Adapting a more proactive form, internet today has changed its definition and core values exploring the

needs and possibilities of growth and development. It has basically reached the level where people do

everything in it, from expressing their feelings to their businesses, everything is possible within the click

of a button. With this advantage of high tech and smart technology, internet on the other hand also has

a more sensitive and threatening side. Internet Governance Awareness has become an immense need

especially for the developing and the least developing countries where there are more issues related to

development, growth and governance.

The technical aspect of the internet operation was long managed by the technical community but

conditioning its dynamics it has evolved with new concepts of Multistakeholderism and collaborative

leadership. It is further expanding in a broader concept of creating a free platform of Open standards

where Internet Governance Forum (IGF) serves as an effective medium of communication and

collaboration.

Similarly, Internet of thing (IoT) is yet another dynamic concept of interlinking information and data as

per the need and cooperation with in the networks of network. The smart technology is driving the

internet ecosystem smarter and faster where internet governance plays a crucial role in securing and

safeguarding the digital rights of individual and various stakeholders.

To be precise Internet Governance Process (IGP) is a more dynamic process of adapting the cooperation

and collaboration of internet technology within the internet ecosystem facilitating and exploring the

possibilities of growth and development. Another important aspect of IGP is its role in securing the

rights and responsibilities of various stakeholders where it lobbies various issues though its open

platform of IGF.

Whether it’s about hacking or child exploitation or pornography, internet security today is one of the

most vulnerable issues whish demand a proper mechanism and regulation. Due to absence of

standardization in policies and mechanism, the externalities are materializing to a new level where it’s

establishing itself as threat to everyone in one or the other form. However, due lack of proper IG

knowledge, the issue of security is high on alert especially in developing and underdeveloped countries.

More or less, policies and mechanism have been developed but are very limited and prepared according

to the feasibility of developed nation where the developing and underdeveloped countries lie at the

stake of uncertainty. This gap between the developed counties and remaining has resulted in a conflict

where rules and regulation remains stagnant to each other giving space for externalities and

irregularities.

This situation has led into manipulation and exploitation where child abuse, cybercrimes, identity theft,

copyrights issue, hacking etc are in the trend of rise.


Research Objectives:

The basic objective of this research is to segregate the common knowledge and understanding of

Internet Governance (IG) Process among the normal public of Nepal. Though there are various capacity

building campaigns running but there has been very less work done in terms of understanding the

knowledge and acceptability of the internet governance process at grassroots level. Even at national or

regional level the IG process is still not accepted as part of the internet development process.

This research deals with the basic objective of understanding the capacity of normal public in terms of

their knowledge of Internet Governance and multistakeholder concept. The objective can be listed in

following given points:

Finding the basic knowledge about Internet Governance concept

Effectiveness of awareness and capacity building program

Local policy and action mechanism

Assumption and practices of internet core values

Problems and issues related to cyber security

User behavior towards government policies

Social indicators for Internet development process

New perspective and ideologies

Social media trend

Youth concepts and practices

Basic Information of Nepal:

Total Population of Nepal 30,986,975 (July 2014 est.)

Age structure 0-14 years: 31.6% (male 4,989,268/female 4,805,381) 15-24 years: 22.6% (male 3,521,421/female 3,484,203) 25-54 years: 35.7% (male 5,273,079/female 5,775,404) 55-64 years: 5.6% (male 847,431/female 886,760) 65 years and over: 4.5% (male 648,917/female 755,111) (2014 est.)

Sex ratio Birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Source: Index Mundi

http://www.indexmundi.com/nepal/demographics_profile.html


Current Statistics

Around 40% of the world population has an internet connection today. In 1995, it was less than 1%. The number of internet users has increased tenfold from 1999 to 2013. The first billion was reached in 2005. The second billion in 2010. The third billion in 2014. By 2017 we will reach the mark of 4 billion around the globe establishing internet as a tool of sustainable growth and development.

Source: InternetLiveStats.com

Nepal’s Detail Information

Details Total Number Remarks

Total No of Internet Users 4,962,323

Internet Penetration rate 17.2 %

Non Internet Users 23,888,394

Total Population 28,850,717

Source: InternetLiveStats.com

Information about the Research

Date of Research 4/24/2016 to 5/25/2016

Social Media Platform Used Facebook /Google Plus /Twitter/LinkedIn

Survey form Google docs

Link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1B3-48r78c_XJcj9yPSjbQnNhYFR29f4dYPRioieTORE/

Target Group Internet users and Professionals

Survey type Questionnaire

Participation number 51 Participants

Methodology:

The survey was done using google doc application sending invitation to the more than 200 participants. Various links were set up on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and LinkedIn for inviting people for the participation.


During this survey the participants were asked various questions in terms of internet Governance, their level of understanding about internet right and principles and user behavior. The selection of participants has been random including invitations sent and shared. Participants from various fields and sectors have contributed in voicing the current problems and suggestion of what they have faced and what should be done. Daily Participation Map:

Findings:


Survey Conclusions:

Internet Governance and its standardization has always been a major issue for developing and least

developing countries of Asia Pacific. Especially in Nepal with limited resources and no strong voices

lobbying proper rules and regulation, the literacy and awareness about internet governance at policy

level and leadership is very less. Even at policy and leadership level the awareness level is literally nil.

There has been no efforts done in terms of creating awareness at policy level which is further blocking

the prospect of development and growth of internet.

Though there are various informational societies and associations running but their work and objectives

are limited to policy definition and other work modalities.

During the survey many of the participants have focused and highlighted the prospect of use of

technology in terms of their daily lives. Most of them voted for using internet at major of the public

places where the second choice was home. In context of the rights of internet users all the participated

voted for the rights and privileges of internet users. In context of government control or internet to be

managed by the government seemed very confused, though the majority of people voted against but

the people also showed their trust in government censorship and surveillance.

Regarding the Internet Governance awareness there was a very weak capacity seen among the

participants. Though they realize the importance of internet ecosystem and the role of various

stakeholders but the concept of multistakeholderism was found at beginner stage among the

participants.

The awareness of cyber security and online protection were seen as important topic which needs to be

cater with effective programs and within better communication network.

Likewise, the results also highlights the contemporary practice of use of social media and technology

without having proper knowledge of knowing their privacy rights.

Similarly, the prime cause of online cybercrime was reason to be limited ideologies of people seeing

internet as a tool of communication by ignoring their person information online. There were other

voices of right access, Quality of Standard and low cost solution as well.

Currently, it is estimated that from Nepal there are more than 4.9 million internet users who are online

every day in search of information or data. With the numbers increasing every year people who are

online with limited knowledge about internet rights and principle itself is a threat.

A wide range of participation was seen from various Sectors from technical field to leaders to lawyers to

IT professional to doctors to students to homemakers with varying a wide sense of prospect and issues

of action.


Recommendations:

The recommendation are listed below

1. Sustainable capacity building programs needs to be adopted

2. More grassroots level interventions required

3. Internet governance standardization process needs to be adopted at policy level

4. Leadership awareness campaigns are a must

5. Cooperation of effective implementation of open standards

6. Standardization of policy and collaboration of knowledge sharing highly required

7. National Internet Governance forum a must

8. Better campaign targeting local people

9. Organization and Association working in the field of raising awareness need to do self-

assessment about their programs

10. Government needs speed up the process of Cyber policy enactment and its practice

11. Better infrastructure in terms of broadband needs to be invested

12. 3G Networks needs to be made comfortable in terms of cost, and quality

13. Government needs to adapt the role of a facilitator not regulator

Information about the Researcher

Shreedeep Rayamajhi

Link: https://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreedeep_Rayamajhi_(activist)

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.rayznews.com

[Disclaimer: The suggestions and remarks in this research paper are based on personal

research experience. Research practices and approaches vary. Exercise your own judgment

regarding the suitability of the content.]

https://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreedeep_Rayamajhi_(activist)

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.rayznews.com/

Report on Internet Governance Capacity Survey Nepal 2016

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