Report Claims One in Three Gen Z Protest Accounts to be Fake
An Israel-based cyber intelligence firm, Cyabra, has reported that nearly one in every three social media accounts promoting Nepal’s Gen Z protests on September 8–9 were fake. These fake accounts, designed to look like real users, blended seamlessly with authentic profiles, making it difficult to detect manipulation. According to the report, 34% of the analyzed accounts on X (formerly Twitter) were inauthentic. Despite their smaller number, these fake profiles generated over 164,000 interactions and reached an estimated 326 million viewers, significantly boosting the visibility of protest-related hashtags and anti-government narratives.
The protests began under the hashtag #Nepokid, which criticized the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children and called for government accountability. However, after the government banned 26 social media apps, online activism rapidly escalated into street protests, leading to 75 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries, ultimately forcing Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.
Cyabra’s report also found that fake accounts used AI-generated visuals and coordinated posting patterns to appear legitimate and influence real users. They spread emotionally charged and confrontational content, framing young Nepalis as defenders of democracy against state repression. The study concludes that Nepal’s Gen Z protests reveal both the power and vulnerability of digital mobilization—showing how social media can unite young voices for reform while remaining susceptible to manipulation and disinformation campaigns.
However, digital experts have pushed back against those interpretations, calling the findings of the report misleading. According to them while the report may offer some indications or insights, experts emphasize that it cannot be treated as definitive evidence because of its shortcomings.
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Government to Fully Shift to Electronic Payments for Public Services
The government has decided to phase out cash payments in all government services and transition entirely to electronic payments. A joint meeting at the Ministry of Finance, with officials from the Nepal Rastra Bank and the Office of the Auditor General, agreed to move all revenue collections, including tax payments, to digital platforms.
According to Deputy Auditor General Deepak Lamichhane, most payments are already online through the Revenue Management Information System (RIMS), though some sectors like electricity, water, and telephone bills are yet to be included. Work is underway to make these systems compatible within one week to a month.
Gen-Z Protest Violence Fueled by Hacked Government SMS Gateway
The Integrated SMS Gateway of the Information Technology Department, used by Malika Rural Municipality, Myagdi, was hacked on the night of September 8, sending provocative messages that escalated the Gen-Z protests. Messages sent under the ID “MALIKA_ALERT” urged violence, claiming, “Only the blood of leaders who shed the blood of innocent children can bring peace to Nepal – Order of The White Lotus.”
On September 9, the rural municipality reported the hack to the Department of Information Technology and Nepal Telecom, requesting immediate action. The alert ID has since been suspended. Nepal Telecom stated it cannot track how many users received the message and that the sender is responsible for its content.
World Bank Warns of Slower Growth in South Asia, Highlights Role of AI and Trade
The World Bank has cautioned that South Asia’s economic growth, projected at 6.6% in 2025, May dropped to 5.8% in 2026, citing risks such as a global economic slowdown, trade uncertainties, socio-political unrest, and labor market disruptions from emerging technologies like AI.
In its South Asia Development Update, the World Bank emphasized that reforms promoting trade openness and technology adoption can boost productivity, create jobs, and stimulate growth. Johannes Zutt, Vice President for South Asia, noted that leveraging AI and reducing trade barriers, particularly for intermediate goods, could enhance private investment and employment for the region’s expanding workforce.
The report highlighted that while low-skill, agricultural, and manual jobs face limited AI risk, moderately educated workers in sectors like IT and professional services are more vulnerable. Job postings for AI-exposed roles have dropped by nearly 20%, while demand for AI skills is rising, with wages 30% higher than other professional roles.
Nepal Police Warns of Rising Facebook “Task Scams”
The Nepal Police Cyber Bureau has warned the public about increasing fraudulent activities on Facebook, particularly “task scams” impersonating popular e-commerce brands like Temu, Modani, and Travelocities. Scammers use brand logos and sponsored ads to lure users with promises of earning money from home by completing tasks. After returning a small amount to gain trust, they defraud victims with requests for larger investments. The Cyber Bureau urged people to verify authenticity before accepting any online task or investment offer and to report scams immediately if they become victims.
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DRS 2025 Surkhet Edition Successfully Concluded
Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) successfully conducted the Digital Rights School (DRS) 2025 , Surkhet edition, a flagship program aimed at building the capacity of stakeholders in the field of digital rights. In 2024, the program trained over 210 participants, demonstrating its growing reach and impact. This year, DRS 2025 adopted a new format tailored for civil society organizations (CSOs), focusing on strengthening their ability to navigate digital challenges, develop institutional digital safety practices, and expand advocacy networks for a rights-based and secure digital environment.
30 participants, representing diverse organizations and civil society members, engaged in interactive discussions and skill-building activities. The curriculum covered key topics such as the foundations of digital rights, digital access and inclusion, online freedom of expression, online privacy and data protection, information integrity, cybercrime, and online safety practices. The program also integrated national legal frameworks with global human rights standards, while emphasizing advocacy, collaboration, and peer learning.
Participants were able to identify legal and policy frameworks affecting digital rights at both national and international levels, recognize and respond to online threats including surveillance, censorship, and online gender-based violence, and apply digital safety and security practices in their work and activism. The Surkhet edition of DRS 2025 reaffirmed DRN’s commitment to empowering civil society and promoting a safer, more rights-respecting digital environment.
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Digital Rights Weekly is a week-based update on Digital Rights and ICT issues, that happened throughout the week, compiled and analyzed from the digital rights perspective by Digital Rights Nepal (DRN). DRN is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to the protection and promotion of digital rights, including the right to online freedom of expression and association, online privacy, access to information, and related issues such as internet governance, cyber laws/policies, and cyber securities in Nepal.
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