Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota has said that the government is coming up with laws within a week to “manage” online media.

At present, online portals are guided only by a directive. Answering the queries of lawmakers at the National Assembly on Sunday, Baskota said the ministry has completed work related to the laws governing mass media.

He urged lawmakers to see the difference between online and social media saying that there were confusions among the people between the two.

Answering the question raised by lawmaker Komal Oli, the minister said many high-profile persons were also affected by the new media. “You know the post against the respected opposition leader a few days ago. Before that against the prime minister and earlier against the President,” Baskota said, adding that people raise the issue only when they are hit. The government believes that nobody is above the law and that the constitution applies to media and journalism too, he said. “Across the world, press freedom remains within constitutional rights. There needs to be some sort of limitations, responsibility and accountability.”

Baskota clarified that the government does not believe in controlling online media. “In a democracy media are not controlled but they need self-regulation to save professional dignity,” he said.