Communications Ministry’s Use of Gmail Sparks Cybersecurity Concerns

Kathmandu. Despite repeated criticism over the use of personal Gmail accounts in government operations, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has been found using Gmail instead of the official government email system.

The issue came to light after the ministry published a notice on 9 May, 2026 calling for applications for the posts of Chairperson and Members of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. In the notice, the ministry asked applicants to contact “[email protected]” for inquiries and additional information.

The government body responsible for information technology policy and regulation’s use of a free public email service has raised questions about compliance with official digital governance practices.

The Department of Information Technology, which operates under the Ministry of Communications, manages the centralised government email system using the “@nepal.gov.np” domain. Government offices are required to use official email addresses under this system, but the ministry itself appears to have ignored the practice.

Cybersecurity experts have long warned against the use of personal email services in government work. Since Gmail data is stored on foreign servers, concerns have been raised about data security, institutional control, and possible exposure of sensitive government information.

Experts also point out that emails sent through public domains such as “@gmail.com” can increase the risk of phishing and impersonation, as they may appear less official and harder to verify. In addition, important institutional records stored in personal accounts may become inaccessible after the transfer or retirement of employees.

They argue that official government domains are more secure and allow better authentication, monitoring, auditing, and cybersecurity management.

Attempts to contact ministry spokesperson Uday Bahadur Ranamagar and information officer Rabindra Prasad Paudyal for comment were unsuccessful, as neither official responded to phone calls.

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