The Supreme Court of Nepal has directed the government to draft a dedicated law governing the privacy and security of personal and biometric data collected through the country’s National Identity Card (NID) program. Nepal’s highest court cited concerns that existing safeguards are insufficient. The court also struck down a Nepal Rastra Bank directive that had made the National Identity Card the sole basis for opening or renewing bank accounts. The ruling states that citizens should not be denied access to banking services because they do not possess a National Identity Card. The judges argued that biometric data such as fingerprints and retinal scans are highly sensitive and that any compromise could have lasting consequences for both individuals and national security, according to Setopati.