DRN Releases Research Report on the Use and Impact of Digital Spaces in Nepal’s 2026 General Election
Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) has released a research report titled “Use and Impact of Digital Spaces in Nepal’s Election 2026,” examining the opportunities, challenges, and impact of digital technologies during Nepal’s House of Representatives election held in March 2026.
The study analyzes the legal and policy framework governing the use of digital technologies during elections, including social media, artificial intelligence (AI), voter data management, information integrity, and platform accountability. It also examines how key stakeholders, including the Election Commission of Nepal, political parties and candidates, government agencies, media, fact-checking organizations, civil society, digital platforms, influencers, and voters, used digital platforms throughout the election period. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining key informant interviews, expert consultations, legal and policy reviews, and monitoring of digital platforms during the election.
The report finds that digital technologies have significantly expanded civic participation and access to election-related information but have also introduced challenges such as AI-generated disinformation, voter data privacy concerns, micro-targeted political advertising, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, opaque digital campaigning, and weak accountability among digital platforms. It concludes that legal, regulatory, and institutional reforms are urgently needed to ensure future elections are transparent, secure, inclusive, and rights-respecting.
The report recommends that the Election Commission develop a digital election code of conduct, Digital Election Integrity Standards, stronger voter data protection measures, and a dedicated Digital Election Monitoring Mechanism. It calls on the Government of Nepal to enact a comprehensive data protection law, strengthen laws governing digital campaigning, AI, political advertising, and platform accountability, promote digital and media literacy, address technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and ensure civilian oversight of election security. The report also urges digital platforms to improve transparency in political advertising, strengthen measures against AI-generated and coordinated disinformation, establish local points of contact in Nepal, and provide privacy-protected data access for independent researchers and election observers.
Furthermore, the report calls on political parties and candidates to commit to ethical digital campaigning, reject disinformation and deceptive AI content, disclose digital campaign spending, and train campaign workers on responsible online conduct. It encourages civil society organizations to continue independent monitoring, fact-checking, and digital literacy initiatives while advocating for rights-respecting digital governance. It also recommends that development partners and research institutions support long-term research, capacity building, and multi-stakeholder collaboration on AI, platform governance, accountability, and information integrity in elections.
Digital Rights Nepal believes that this report will contribute to evidence-based discussions on the relationship between digital technologies and democratic processes in Nepal and support the legal and policy reforms needed to make future elections more transparent, inclusive, secure, and rights-respecting.
Full read: https://digitalrightsnepal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Use-and-Impact-of-Digital-Space-in-Nepals-Election-2026.pdf
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SC Overturns Government Decision Restricting Official Advertisements to State-Owned Media
The Supreme Court has quashed the government’s decision to restrict official advertisements and public notices exclusively to state-owned media, ruling that private media cannot be excluded from receiving government advertisements. The decision overturns an April 1, 2026 directive that required all government bodies to publish advertisements only through government-owned media outlets. The case was filed by Media Society Nepal, which argued that the directive violated constitutional principles, undermined press freedom, and financially discriminated against private media. The government had defended the policy as a measure to prevent misuse of public funds.
With its ruling, the Supreme Court restored the eligibility of private media to receive government advertisements, reinforcing the principles of equal treatment, media plurality, and constitutional protections for independent media. Government Plans New AI Law Among 166 Bills for FY 2026/27
The Government of Nepal plans to introduce 166 bills in the FY 2026/27, including a new law on Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to the legislative agenda submitted to Parliament, bills on AI, information technology, and cybersecurity have been prioritized by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers for introduction between November and February. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is also preparing legislation on telecommunications, the Media Council, national broadcasting, postal services, Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), and Gorkhapatra, while the newly established Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation plans to introduce several science and technology-related bills. Suspicious Vehicle Blockades Outside Media Houses Raise Press Freedom Concerns
Vehicles were deliberately abandoned outside the entrances of Kantipur Media Group, Onlinekhabar, Himalaya Television, and even in front of home of opposition leader on 13 July morning, blocking access to their premises for several hours and disrupting newsroom operations. The coordinated nature of the incident has raised concerns about possible intimidation of independent media.
Political parties, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), and civil society organizations condemned the incident, describing it as an attempt to intimidate the media and undermine press freedom. While the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) also denounced any effort to threaten independent journalism, it did not address the involvement of a vehicle owned by one of its party members.
Five Arrested for Alleged Online Job Scam and Illegal Cryptocurrency Trading
Nepal Police’s Cyber Bureau has arrested five individuals, including one Nepali and four Bangladeshi nationals, for allegedly operating an online job scam through Facebook and engaging in illegal cryptocurrency trading. The suspects allegedly posted fake overseas job advertisements, persuaded victims to download suspicious mobile applications, and fraudulently transferred money from victims’ bank accounts. Police also found evidence linking the suspects to cryptocurrency and USDT trading on the Binance platform. A case has been registered under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2006, and the investigation is ongoing.
Government to Launch Encrypted Digital Whistleblower Complaint System
The Government of Nepal has approved plans to launch an Anonymous Encrypted Digital Complaint System to protect the identity of whistleblowers under its Second National Strategic Plan Against Corruption (2082/83–2087/88). Led by the CIAA, the initiative will also include the development of an AI-based corruption risk analysis platform and a digital corruption risk density map to strengthen corruption prevention and oversight.
Supreme Court Orders Audio-Visual Recording of Criminal Investigations
The Supreme Court has directed the government to introduce audio-visual recording of criminal investigations, particularly in serious cases, to improve transparency and prevent physical or psychological torture during interrogations. The Court also instructed the government to allocate the necessary infrastructure, technology, and budget to implement the system, emphasizing that recorded interrogations would strengthen the credibility of investigations and protect the rights of accused persons.
Former Nepal Telecom Chief Convicted in Three Separate Corruption Cases
The Special Court has convicted former Nepal Telecom Managing Director and former National Information Technology Center (NITC) Executive Director Sunil Paudel in three separate corruption-related cases. In one case, the court found that he had illegally amassed NPR 127.57 million, sentencing him to 2 years and 6 months’ imprisonment, imposing a fine equal to the illicit assets, and ordering their confiscation. In a separate bribery case, Paudel was found guilty of accepting a USD 280,000 bribe during the procurement of security and network equipment for the NITC. In another case involving the concealment of illegally acquired assets through financial transactions in Singapore, the court sentenced Paudel to 8 and half years’ imprisonment and imposed NPR 15.4 million fine.
AI Deepfake Video Misused Nepal Police Identity to Promote Illegal Betting
An AI-generated deepfake video using the Nepal Police logo and uniform is circulating on Facebook to falsely promote an illegal online betting platform as legitimate in Nepal. The video, viewed by millions, misleadingly claims the platform is legal despite all forms of online betting being prohibited under Nepali law. The incident highlights the growing misuse of AI for online fraud and misinformation. It comes despite ongoing government efforts to block illegal betting websites and advertisements in coordination with the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) and internet service providers.
Government Denies Reports of Nagarik App Portal Hack
Claims circulating on social media that the Nagarik App web portal was hacked have been denied by government officials. The speculation arose after Google search results displayed unusual foreign-language text linked to the portal, although the website itself continued to function normally. According to the Nagarik App’s technical team, there is no evidence that the backend system or user data has been compromised.
National ID Mandatory for Existing Bank Accounts
Nepal Rastra Bank has made the National Identity Card (NID) mandatory for all existing bank accounts, requiring customers to update their NID details by 17 September 2026. Banks must enable online updates through mobile apps or other digital platforms. Customers without an NID can continue using their accounts but will receive periodic reminders to update their information once they obtain the card. Special exemptions apply to children, persons with disabilities, and Nepalis living abroad.
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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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