Election Commission Identifies 302 False and Harmful Posts, Raises Transparency Concerns The Election Commission of Nepal has identified 302 false, misleading, and hateful posts and initiated action against them. These posts violate the Election Code of Conduct, the Electronic Transactions Act, and the Press Council Act. To monitor such content, the Commission has established the Election Information Transmission and Coordination Center, under which the Election Integrity Promotion Unit actively tracks harmful posts during the electoral process and forwards them to relevant authorities for action. Similarly, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has highlighted the Cyber Bureau’s crucial role in ensuring a fair election by monitoring social media for false, misleading, and illegal content. He directed the Bureau to act promptly against such posts, assess their accuracy, and bring violators under legal action, preventing misuse that could disrupt social harmony. The visit also included an inspection of Bureau operations to improve efficiency and service effectiveness. However, there are concerns about transparency and accountability of the monitoring by the Election Commission. Despite news reports, no details about the identified posts are available on the Commission’s website or social media platforms. Monitoring false and harmful content is not only for punitive purposes but also to prevent its circulation and protect the public from misinformation. Timely communication about identified posts is essential, yet the absence of public updates reflects institutional opacity. Even preventing a single post from spreading would be a meaningful achievement in this sensitive period. Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) urges the Commission to ensure transparency in such actions. If monitoring serves solely as a basis for punitive measures, the Commission must rethink its approach and prioritize timely and transparent communication to uphold accountability and maintain public trust in the electoral process. | | | Candidates Spend Heavily on Social Media Campaigns Ahead of Elections
With just over a month until the House of Representatives elections, candidates are increasingly outsourcing their social media campaigns, spending thousands of rupees to reach voters. IT companies are managing content creation, targeting specific regions, ages, and interests, and boosting posts on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Daily spending per post ranges from NPR 1,200 to 20,000.
Platforms like MyAbhiyan.com, operated by Berri Technology, allow candidates to manage voter outreach, team coordination, social media campaigns, and SMS messaging in one place. Candidates often rely on these services because they cannot personally maintain regular updates on their social media accounts.
The Election Commission monitors these activities using tools like e-Monitor Plus to track advertising and campaign spending, including boosted posts, ensuring compliance with expenditure limits and the Code of Conduct. The Cyber Bureau leads efforts to track hidden digital spending, while the Nepal Advertising Board works with the Bureau to prevent misleading, defamatory, or negative content. Complaints about digital campaigning are already being received, and the Commission has warned it will take action where necessary. Special Court Orders Technical Review in TERAMOCS Corruption Case
Nepal’s Special Court has ordered a technical examination of the TERAMOCS (Traffic Monitoring and Fraud Control System) in the corruption case filed against former Communication Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet and 18 others. The court directed an expert committee to verify whether the supplied and installed equipment met the terms and quality standards of the purchase agreement. The court also ordered the retrieval of official files related to the procurement process and parliamentary committee directives, noting that over NPR 1.11 billion had already been paid and the system had reportedly been installed. The case concerns alleged irregularities worth over NPR 3.21 billion in the TERAMOCS procurement process. Global Push Intensifies to Limit Children’s Access to Social Media
Countries across Europe and Asia are moving toward stricter limits on children’s social media use as concerns grow over mental health, online addiction, and digital safety. In the Netherlands, a January 2026 survey found that 63 percent of citizens support banning social media for children under 16, with many believing young teens are not equipped to manage harmful online impacts. France’s lower house of parliament has also approved a draft law to restrict access for children under 15, aiming to block minors from platforms considered damaging to their well-being. Meanwhile, India’s Andhra Pradesh state is studying legal tools to introduce age-appropriate restrictions and is consulting major technology companies on global best practices. Together, these developments highlight a widening international trend toward tighter age-based social media controls to better protect children online. Nepal’s New Voter IDs Live on Nagarik App
Around 1 million new voter IDs in Nepal are now available on the Nagarik App and the Election Commission’s system. Voters can link their ID using their number and birth date to view it with a photo. Screenshots are currently disabled but will be allowed in an upcoming update. Those unsure of their ID number can check via the Election Commission website using their registration details. | | | Mis/Disinformation Misinformation Surge in Nepal’s 2082 Election This week as well, misinformation and disinformation on social media have become major concerns, with fact-checks and news reports showing how false claims and manipulated content continue to spread widely, shaping public perception and potentially electoral outcomes. Notable incidents include fake TikTok accounts created in Rabi Lamichhane’s name offering misleading iPhone giveaways, and viral false stories about figures such as Divakar Sah and former ANNFSU president Sujan Kadariya. Deepfake and edited images have also circulated, including AI-generated visuals falsely claiming residents of Bhaktapur-2 chased away candidate Mahesh Basnet and manipulated photos of former PM KP Oli. Misleading and edited video claimed Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa promised NPR 30,000 monthly allowances for citizens above 60, free mobile phones for those over 18, and free fuel for motorbike riders if he became Prime Minister from his speech to distort its original meaning. Social media platforms remain the main channels amplifying these narratives. Authorities and fact-checkers have identified over 300 misleading materials linked to 21 candidates and parties, while some government officials promoting candidates’ content online have also been questioned, raising accountability concerns. These trends highlight the urgent need for stronger media literacy, active fact-checking, and tighter social media regulation, as unchecked misinformation risks eroding public trust and influencing electoral decisions based on falsehoods rather than facts. Nepal Sees Surge in Misinformation, Facebook Tops as Source: Nepal Fact Check
A recent study by Nepal Fact Check highlights a sharp rise in misinformation in Nepal over the past two years. Analyzing 312 fact-checks from 2024–25, the study found that most misleading content (58.7%) was miscontextualized rather than entirely false, with only 1.3% verified as true. Facebook emerged as the main source, accounting for 79% of social media-related misinformation, followed by TikTok, X, and YouTube, while some traditional media were also involved. Politics and social issues dominated the misleading content, which mostly originated from individual content creators. Fact-checkers relied on internet searches, official documents, and reverse image verification, with 70% of cases supported by government data. The report recommends stronger platform moderation, media literacy campaigns, government transparency, and enhanced capacity for fact-checking organizations to curb the spread of false and misleading information in Nepal. | | | DRN Concludes Capacity-Building Workshop on Digital Citizenship
Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) successfully concluded the workshop titled “Promoting Digital Citizenship: Fact-Checking and Online Safety” on 24 January 2026 at ANSWER Nepal. The program convened youth participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, fostering an inclusive environment for shared learning and constructive dialogue.
This capacity-building initiative focused on digital rights, online safety, and information integrity, with particular emphasis on the context of Nepal’s upcoming elections. Through interactive discussions, practical exercises, and real-world examples, participants examined the impacts of misinformation, disinformation, and unsafe digital practices on democratic processes, while also identifying the proactive role young people can play in cultivating a safer and more informed digital ecosystem.
Participants provided positive feedback, highlighting increased confidence in verifying information, recognizing digital risks, and practicing responsible online behavior. Many underscored the relevance of the workshop in strengthening their ability to act as critical, informed, and ethical digital citizens during a significant democratic period.
The event was organized by Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) under the Digital Democracy Initiative, with the support of CIVICUS, DDI South Asia, and Accountability Lab. | | | 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. | | | |
