Cyber laws and their role in safeguarding children online

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Nepal's cyber laws in safeguarding children from online threats by analyzing legal frameworks, digital safety awareness, and enforcement practices. Utilizing data from the 2024 Nepal Cyber Awareness Survey (NCAS-2024), which gathered 3,500 responses from students, parents, teachers, and law enforcement across all provinces, it adopts a mixed-method approach. Legal analysis is integrated with the Regulatory Impact Assessment Model (RIAM) to assess performance using metrics like reporting rates, response times, and digital literacy. Results indicate that only 41.2% of respondents are aware of child protection provisions in the Electronic Transactions Act (ETA) 2063, and just 28.7% of cyber incidents involving minors receive prompt legal action. In contrast, areas with active digital literacy programs report a 55.4% reduction in cyber threats to children. The study underscores the need for improved enforcement, legislative updates, and greater public awareness to enhance child online safety in Nepal.