Parliament power hinges on digital access and public trust: Speaker

Kathmandu, July 31: Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said power of the parliament rests on digital access and public trust. 

He said this in the 'Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments' organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland on July 29-31 today. 

Delivering his remarks on the topic 'What will be the role of parliamentarians in shaping our digital future?', Ghimire noted, "The strength of the parliament today is not merely in the papers but rests on digital access and public trust". 

Highlighting the need of increasing budget in the technology sector, he said it has been an utmost importance to assure resource in digital infrastructure, cyber security, internet literacy and data protection. 

He argued that the parliament should be developed as a leading institution rather than keeping itself behind in the era of digital transformation. 

"The parliamentarians have been successful in straightly holding dialogue with the citizens and receive their responses through social networking sites and digital media, as well as reflect the people's mandate in policy formulation", he shared. 

“However, the challenge of misusing technology for spreading misinformation and propaganda are on the rise. Parliaments have the responsibility to promote digital literacy along with the use of technology”, Ghimire mentioned. 

Speaker Ghimire expressed confidence that parliaments can make their operations more effective by practicing technologies like machine learning, data centers, digitization, and speech-to-text technology, and that such technologies will strengthen the relationship between the parliament and the public. 

“I would like to inform that a study is being conducted on the use of artificial intelligence in legislative management in the federal parliament of Nepal”, the Speaker shared, adding, “We are working on the artificial intelligence bill and the social media bill in the country. 

He informed that digital technology has provided an important opportunity to enhance the transparency, efficiency, and public participation in the functioning of the parliament. 

Technologies like online broadcasting, e-parliament systems, digital records, and electronic voting systems have contributed to the effective operations of the parliament.  (RSS)