Civil Society Call for Action Against Possible Election-Period Disinformation in Nepal Digital Rights Nepal along with nineteen civil society organizations, have issued a joint press release calling on the Election Commission (EC), government bodies, and other stakeholders to prevent disinformation and misinformation ahead of the House of Representatives elections on March 5. Press release highlighted that cyberattacks, data breaches, and manipulation of digital information pose serious threats to the integrity of the election process urging the EC, civil society groups, media organizations, and government agencies to coordinate closely with digital platforms to identify and counter false or misleading content. The release emphasized that press and online media publishers should not resort to self-censorship due to threats or pressure, as doing so undermines free expression, professional ethics, and democratic responsibilities. Ensuring that all public information is accurate and trustworthy is essential to strengthen Nepal’s democratic process. The press release was jointly issued by Digital Rights Nepal, Dignity Initiative, Center for Media Research-Nepal, Freedom Forum Nepal, Open Internet Nepal (Internet Society Nepal Chapter), and other media advocacy groups. Santosh Sigdel, Executive Director of Digital Rights Nepal, states that the EC should establish a dashboard to track problematic content on social media. He noted that while the EC recently reported 302 instances of problematic content, the specifics were not made public. Social media users were using AI-generated content or manipulating information to mislead the public and make content viral for monetization purposes. He also stressed the need for enhanced government cybersecurity capabilities to counter these campaigns. | | | Election Commission Initiates Action Against 181 Content Creators for Code of Conduct Violations
Election Commission of Nepal has initiated action against 181 content producers and distributors for spreading false, misleading, and harmful information in violation of the election code of conduct between February 1 and 6, amid intensified monitoring of digital platforms ahead of the upcoming elections.
Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said the details have been forwarded to the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau for possible prosecution under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2006, while the Nepal Telecommunications Authority has been asked to act against seven content producers. Additionally, 40 complaints involving mass media have been referred to the Press Council Nepal, with the Commission noting that mainstream media have largely complied with the code through responsible reporting and fact-checking.
Since the code of conduct came into effect from midnight of January 18, the Commission has sought explanations from candidates, political parties, public officials, and institutions over issues such as hate speech, campaign violations, and undue influence. Most candidates asked for clarification reportedly belong to the Rastriya Swatantra Party. The Commission has also halted organizational elections and conventions during the code of conduct period. Mobile Phone and Internet Access in Nepal: A Gender Snapshot
Recent findings from the Fourth Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2081/82 show a clear gender gap in mobile phone ownership in Nepal. While 90.4% of men aged 15–49 own a mobile phone, the figure for women stands at 81.6%. Mobile usage is also higher among men (78.7%) than women (72.7%) in the past three months. Smartphone ownership follows a similar pattern, with 82.1% of men and 72.8% of women using smartphones. At the household level, 82% of households in Nepal use internet-accessible devices—86.5% in urban areas and 73% in rural areas. The lowest access is in rural Karnali Province, where only 59.1% of households use such devices. National Assembly Returns Social Media Bill to Government
The National Assembly has unanimously decided to return the Social Media Bill, 2081 to the government. The decision was made during the Assembly meeting held on 9 February 2026, where Chairperson Narayan Dahal presented the matter for decision and announced the bill’s return.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology had formally decided to request the bill’s return on 20 Magh, and a letter instructing the government to do so was issued on 21 Magh, leading to the Assembly’s final decision. Dr. Wagle Files Cyber Complaint Over Misleading Content
Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Vice President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and HoR candidate from Tanahun–1, has filed a complaint with the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau, alleging the spread of misleading content on social media that harms his religion, personal faith, and character. He accused Bagmati Province lawmaker Lakshmi Ghimire and Mohan Lama Rumba of sharing and promoting false information, including repeated edits on Wikipedia that were later circulated on Facebook and X. Wagle claimed the content was aimed at creating religious and social discord. He has demanded the immediate removal of the content and a criminal investigation, citing Section 47 of the Electronic Transactions Act, 2006, and relevant provisions of the National Penal Code. Kantipur Shuts Down Leader Rating Site Following ECN Concerns
Kantipur Media Group has shut down its ‘Approval Rating’ site (rate.ekantipur.com) following concerns from the Election Commission and the Press Council about leader ratings. The site stated the closure was in response to these concerns. The Commission has previously flagged such ratings as against the election code of conduct and has sought to block six other portals, including ‘Rate My Neta,’ Exit Poll Nepal, Nepal Poll, HOR 2026, Nepal Writes, and Polymarket. | | | Mis/Disinformation Election-Related Misinformation Continues to Circulate Online Election-related misinformation and disinformation continued to spread widely on social media this week. Fact-checks and media reports show that false claims, edited visuals, and manipulated content are shaping public perception and could influence electoral outcomes. A video of Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa claiming the party is not for the poor went viral, but it was three years old, selectively edited, and taken out of context. Social media users falsely claimed that police in civil dress were deployed during the door-to-door campaign of Balendra Shah in Jhapa–5, and that the Election Commission had sought clarification. Posts alleging actors Rajesh Hamal, Deepakraj Giri and Rekha Thapa endorsed the CPN (Maoist Centre) were digitally manipulated, while another video of a political rally in Rukum with motorcycles and blue flags was AI-generated. Posts claiming a young man attacked UML workers in Chainpur, Sankhuwasabha, that CPN leader Barsaman Pun said the country was set on fire under Prachanda’s plan, that RSP workers were chased in Nuwakot, and that UML candidate Mahesh Basnet was beaten in Dhangadhi all went viral. Fact-checks confirmed these reports were misleading, manipulated, or based on unrelated footage. Social media platforms remain the primary channels amplifying such misleading narratives. Fact-checkers and authorities have flagged multiple cases, while concerns have been raised about government officials promoting partisan content online, prompting questions of accountability. These trends highlight the urgent need for stronger media literacy, proactive fact-checking, and more effective social media governance, as unchecked misinformation poses serious risks to public trust and the integrity of electoral processes. | | | | DRN activities Promoting Digital Citizenship: DRN Conducts Online Safety Workshop
Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) successfully conducted “Promoting Digital Citizenship: Fact-Checking and Online Safety” on 6 February 2026 at Narayani Model Secondary School. The interactive session engaged high school students from the computer science stream, focusing on digital rights, online safety, and the role of digital spaces in Nepal’s upcoming elections.
Through discussions, real-world examples, and hands-on activities, students explored how misinformation and unsafe online practices can affect democracy and learned strategies for responsible online behavior. Participants reported increased confidence in fact-checking, recognizing digital risks, and practicing ethical engagement online.
The program, organized under DRN’s Digital Democracy Initiative, was supported by CIVICUS, DDI South Asia, and Accountability Lab. DRN thanks Narayani Model Secondary School for their collaboration. | | | 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. | | | |
