Nepal Police seeks call interception powers, reviving privacy and civil liberties concerns

Lawyers and rights advocates warn that expanded surveillance powers could expose citizens to abuse, while police argue they are essential for tackling increasingly tech-savvy criminals.

Nepal Police has asked the government to give it legal authority to intercept telephone calls and digital communications in real time during criminal investigations, reopening a long-running debate over how far the state should be allowed to ‘intrude’ into citizens’ private communication.