Quaterly Newsletter from Body & Data
April to June 2023

Welcome to our newsletter, "Body & Data Bytes Bulletin!" Join us as we delve into our comprehensive analysis of the digital rights landscape in Nepal in the last quarter, our work in national and international spaces, workshops with different movements and activists and our recent publications. Our newsletter is your gateway to staying informed, inspired, and empowered in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Let's dive in! 🚀🔐

Our comprehensive analysis of the digital rights landscape in Nepal, focusing on the period from April to June 2023, has unearthed a series of disconcerting incidents relating to privacy breaches and data vulnerabilities. In our latest media monitoring report, we dive deep into the alarming rise of online violence and threats following Pride events, the significance of online expression and sexual expression, and the critical issue of data privacy breaches caused by phishing attacks. Multiple hacking attempts targeting government websites and data centers have severely undermined public trust in the government's ability to protect citizen data. These incidents have revealed glaring vulnerabilities and a lack of proper planning in the government's digitization efforts, specifically in terms of data security. It is imperative for the government to prioritize data security and demonstrate a genuine commitment to protecting citizens' data.

In November 2022, during Nepal's second general election, the Nepal Election Commission (EC) made voters' data publicly accessible on its website, resulting in a significant breach of data privacy. This situation poses serious risks and concerns regarding the protection of personal information. During the election period, we had brought this information to light and had requested the commission to remove the personal data of the voters from the website. 

We urge you to help us reach out to the EC and request them to respect voters' right to privacy in their upcoming bill regarding elections. Please provide us with screenshots of sponsored ads, personalized messages, or phone calls received during the election period to strengthen our case. Let's take action to protect personal information during elections. If you have any specific stories of your data breaches because of your information being on the commission's website, you can also email us at communication@bodyanddata.org.

Last quarter, we embarked on a globetrotting adventure, attending the plenary session titled "Digitisation of Identities in the Asia-Pacific through a Data Justice Lens" at Chaing-Mai, Thailand, hosted by Engage Media's DRAPAC23. And that's not all—we even exhibited the "Internet: Boundaries and Beyond." 🔥💻 We shared about the need to re-think various e-governance initiatives and discussed shared experiences and differences in the implementation of such initiatives in different countries within the Asia-Pacific region. We extended the conversation of privacy of communities in RightsCon 2023 Costa Rica. At CSW67, we emphasized the importance of bringing the language of digital rights and feminism closer to communities. Let's face it, technology isn't some distant enigma—it's already part of the everyday lives of women and marginalized groups, who have always been innovative survivors.

But hey, it wasn't all serious discussions and plenary sessions. We also dived into the world of cute doodles and captivating conversations at our fabulous Digital Security Workshop - Feminist Tech Exchange. It was a journey like no other, exploring feminist values, digital rights, and technology from the vibrant perspectives of marginalized communities. We got to work with activists from women's rights, queer rights, disability, Dalit rights, techies and individuals! It was an amazing co-learning experience. Reya, a participant shares, "time spent in the sweetest and empowering space<3 thanks for today"

"It is crucial to recognize that sexuality has always been political and in turn, how we discover and express our sexuality through dating apps and online, is by default a political act." Check out Bibhu's love and hate relationship with dating apps.

"Beyond the technology, there needs to be a wider discussion and conscious effort in having conversations and advocacy that systematically punishes women, specifically women and queer persons with disability for sexually expressing themselves online and offline, importance of sexual autonomy and agency in their lives, and questioning narratives that are misogynistic and ableist." Checkout Jalasa's article on inclusive comprehensive sexual education for Women with Disabilities in the digital age.

"Pride is important, but so are our privacy, expressions, experiences and bodies which are all part of the celebration, and this is not just a single story." Check out Neha Gauchan's article on "There is no single story to pride"

The Digital Everyday brings a feminist lens to understanding the entanglements between bodies and technologies from a South Asian lens

So, fellow adventurers, let's gear up for another thrilling quarter ahead. We'll continue pushing boundaries, championing digital rights, and embracing the power of feminism in the digital realm. Stay tuned for more awe-inspiring adventures, empowering insights, and delightful surprises. Together, we'll reshape the future one pixel at a time! 💫💻🌈

Established in 2017, Body & Data works to enhance understanding and access to information on digital rights among women, queer people and minority groups where they are able to exercise their rights in a safe and just digital space. We work towards the vision of accessible, safe and just digital space for all, through cross movement building, facilitation for access to information, knowledge building and dissemination on digital rights in the context of Nepal