DRN team met Election Commissioner of Nepal

On 5 November 2026, the Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) team, represented by Executive Director Santosh Sigdel and Program Officer Sadichchha Silwal, met with Hon. Rajib Pandey Subba, Election Commissioner of the Election Commission, Nepal (ECN), to discuss the growing influence of digital technologies on electoral processes.

The discussion explored some of the most pressing issues at the intersection of technology and democracy, including:

The use and impact of social media and AI in elections

Voter privacy and protection of personal data

Cybersecurity risks and digital voter registration systems

Information integrity and the growing threats of misinformation and disinformation

Opportunities for collaboration to safeguard electoral integrity and voter rights.

During the meeting, DRN also shared its latest report, “Use and Impact of Digital Space in Nepal’s Election 2026.”

The report examines how different stakeholders used digital platforms during the electoral process, the opportunities digital spaces created for political participation, and emerging challenges such as misinformation and disinformation, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, online harassment, privacy and digital security risks, and barriers faced by women and marginalized communities.

It also offers recommendations to strengthen transparency and accountability, protect sensitive voter information, establish sustained coordination with social media platforms, and promote nationwide digital literacy to address emerging threats, including synthetic media and coordinated manipulation.

As digital spaces become increasingly influential in shaping electoral processes and democratic participation, protecting electoral integrity must go hand in hand with protecting digital rights.

DRN looks forward to working closely with the Election Commission of Nepal and other stakeholders to promote secure, inclusive, transparent, and rights-respecting elections.

#DigitalRights #ElectoralIntegrity #NepalElection2026 #VoterPrivacy #InformationIntegrity #DigitalDemocracy #DRN