Digital Electioneering in Nepal: Innovation, Gaps, and Threats ________________With just over a month remaining until the House of Representatives elections, Nepal’s electoral landscape is witnessing a significant shift: digital space has emerged as a decisive and highly contested political battleground. What was once limited to party announcements and political messaging has evolved into a sophisticated industry of professional digital electioneering. Political actors are actively purchasing bundled services marketed as election-winning tools, ranging from boosted social media campaigns, AI-driven messaging and voter funnels to digital war rooms and real-time opposition tracking systems.This rapid expansion stands in direct tension with Nepal’s election code of conduct, which contains strict provisions governing the use of social media and cyberspace during election. Although organic digital campaigning is permitted, the code clearly prohibits paid boosting and advertising, the dissemination of misinformation or disinformation, and the publication of opinion polls or surveys prior to the announcement of official election results. In practice, however, these rules are being widely and systematically violated. Data from Meta’s advertising transparency tools shows that paid political advertising has continued even after the code came into force on 18 January. Between 19 and 25 January alone, multiple political actors ran boosted advertisements explicitly targeting voters, directly undermining the intent of the code to limit financial influence and ensure a level playing field.Beyond paid advertising, social media platforms are increasingly flooded with election predictions and unofficial surveys projecting victories for specific candidates or political party, often without any disclosure of methodology or data sources. Amplified through repetition and algorithms, such content can mislead voters, shape perceptions, and create bandwagon effects, particularly in a context of uneven digital literacy. Concerns have also emerged over the use of paid services, bots, and fake accounts to artificially inflate likes, shares, and comments, distorting political discourse and disadvantage candidates who rely on organic reach. In response, the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) which has intensified digital monitoring through tools such as E-Monitor Plus, clarified that paid boosting will count toward campaign expenditure limits, and activated multiple coordination mechanisms, including the EIDC, IIPC, and the Election Police Cyber Cell. ECN said that they have identified 302 false, misleading, and hateful posts and initiated action against them. However, capacity and coordination constraints persist, including within the Nepal Advertising Board. The weak institutional measures, coupled with the absence of effective enforcement mechanisms, are leaving digital campaigning largely unaddressed despite its growing scale and sophistication. Monitoring remains largely reactive; covert advertising and coordinated influence networks continue unchecked, while delayed enforcement weakens deterrence during the most critical phases of campaigns. This exposes a widening gap between rapidly evolving digital tactics and regulatory capacity, with the Election Commission prioritizing rule-making over decisive enforcement and meaningful sanctions. Equally concerning is the role of digital platforms, which continue to profit from paid political boosting while failing to prioritize election integrity. High-value political advertisements are routinely approved and amplified, while voter education, election warnings, and misinformation corrections are frequently restricted or removed, revealing a clear commercial bias over democratic safeguards. Despite platforms’ central role, there is little evidence of structured coordination with the Election Commission to regulate political advertising, counter misinformation, or enforce the election code. Safeguarding electoral integrity in the digital age demands a shift from symbolic regulation to decisive action, including real-time enforcement, clear sanctions, mandatory advertising transparency, and formal cooperation frameworks with platforms. Without robust accountability for both political actors and digital platforms, digital innovation risks becoming a tool for manipulation rather than democratic participation. | | | | EC Seeks Clarification from High-Profile Candidates over Code Violations: The Election Commission has sought explanations from several high-profile candidates, including Balen Shah, Mahesh Basnet, Harka Sampang and Kamal Bhusal, over alleged violations of the election code of conduct. Complaints cite hate speech, misleading remarks, misuse of children in campaigns and election symbol violations. The Commission says it will investigate and may impose fines or cancel candidatures under election law. Nepal Steps Up Election Security Measures: With five weeks to go until Nepal’s snap parliamentary election, authorities are tightening security nationwide by mobilising around 150,000 election police. Of the 10,967 polling booths, 4,442 have been classified as sensitive and 3,680 as highly sensitive, putting 8,122 booths under elevated security monitoring. High-profile constituencies and past flashpoints are under heightened surveillance, with election police to be deployed from February 10 under an integrated election security plan. Madhesh Battleground: Old Guard vs New Politics: Madhesh Province, with 32 House seats and 1,054 candidates, has become a high-stakes electoral battleground. The contest features senior leaders, party-switchers, and new faces across Dhanusha, Saptari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Parsa, and Bara, making campaigns intense with rallies, door-to-door outreach, and social media strategies. Voters are weighing frustration with traditional parties against uncertainty about emerging forces, turning Madhesh into a key test of whether established networks hold or new politics can gain ground. Call for Accurate Information in upcoming HoR Elections: The National Information Commission has urged all stakeholders to ensure the flow of accurate and factual information ahead of the House of Representatives elections on March 5. Warning that misinformation can undermine democracy, the Commission called for responsible communication, effective monitoring, and timely public disclosure of election-related information. Political parties, candidates, and media were asked to uphold fact-based, neutral, and ethical standards, while citizens were encouraged to verify sources before sharing information and to report misinformation. Civil Society Calls for Rights-Focused Election Manifestos: Sixteen civil society organisations led by the NGO Federation of Nepal have urged political parties to adopt people-centred and rights-based agendas in their manifestos ahead of the March 5 House of Representatives elections. Calling the polls a key democratic moment, they stressed the need for accountable governance, inclusive democracy, and effective implementation of constitutional rights. The joint appeal highlights constitutional reform, stronger federalism, protection of freedom of expression and digital rights, access to justice, and guaranteed health and education as core priorities for political parties. | | | This weekly newsletter is jointly produced by ‘Accountability Lab Nepal’ and ‘Digital Rights Nepal’ to provide meaningful information to counter misinformation and common misconceptions regarding Nepal’s 2026 House of Representatives Election. It aims to promote electoral integrity and enable informed citizenry by delivering non-partisan, evidence-based analysis, and rights-oriented perspective. It does not endorse or oppose any political party or candidates. The data presented here is synthesized from diverse credible sources, including government agencies, international organizations, news media, social platforms, and our extensive local networks. We select the topics based on their prevalence, relevance, and potential societal impact, ensuring all information is accurate and verified at the time of publication. | | | |
