Government Must Address Misinformation Targeting House of Representatives Election

Nepali NGOs Unite to Combat Election Misinformation Ahead of March Vote

Twenty non-governmental organizations, led by Digital Rights Nepal, have issued a joint statement urging the Election Commission and key stakeholders to take decisive action against the spread of misinformation during Nepal’s upcoming House of Representatives elections on March 5.

The coalition warns that cyberattacks, data breaches, and digital information manipulation pose significant threats to electoral integrity. As Nepal’s political landscape heats up, these organizations emphasize the critical need for governmental bodies, election officials, and civil society groups to collaborate in maintaining informational accuracy throughout the campaign period.

“Social media platforms have become battlegrounds for political messaging, with some users deploying AI-generated content or deliberately manipulating information about candidates and parties,” explained Santosh Sigdel, Executive Director of Digital Rights Nepal, in an interview with The Himalayan Times.

Sigdel highlighted a troubling trend where content creators spread misleading information primarily to increase virality and monetize their posts. He noted that while the Election Commission recently identified 302 problematic social media posts, it failed to publicly specify which content was deemed misleading, limiting public awareness of the issue.

The coalition is advocating for increased transparency, suggesting the Election Commission develop a public dashboard to track and display problematic content circulating on social media platforms. Such a system would help voters distinguish between legitimate information and manipulative content designed to influence their voting decisions.

The press release emphasizes that media outlets and online publishers should resist self-censorship despite external pressures, threats, or fear of retaliation. According to the coalition, yielding to such pressures undermines fundamental democratic principles including free expression and professional journalistic ethics.

Nepal’s vulnerability to digital misinformation comes at a time when many countries worldwide are grappling with similar challenges to their electoral processes. The widespread use of social media and easy access to content creation tools have created new avenues for election interference that many democratic institutions are still learning to address effectively.

The NGOs are calling for strengthened cooperation between government bodies, election officials, media organizations, and civil society groups to safeguard information flow and protect electoral integrity. They stress that accurate and trustworthy information forms the foundation of informed voter decisions.

Additionally, Sigdel emphasized the need for enhanced government cybersecurity capabilities to effectively counter misinformation campaigns on social media platforms. As digital threats evolve, Nepal’s ability to protect its democratic processes will depend increasingly on technical preparedness and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

The coalition issuing the statement includes prominent civil society organizations such as Digital Rights Nepal, Dignity Initiative, Center for Media Research-Nepal, Freedom Forum Nepal, Open Internet Nepal (Internet Society Nepal Chapter), and Media Advocacy Groups.

These concerns echo global trends, where democracies worldwide are increasingly recognizing digital disinformation as a significant threat to election integrity. With Nepal’s election less than a month away, the response from the Election Commission to these recommendations will be closely watched by advocates for electoral transparency and digital rights.

The coordinated effort demonstrates growing recognition among Nepal’s civil society that protecting democratic processes now extends beyond traditional election monitoring into the digital realm, requiring new strategies and partnerships to safeguard the public’s right to accurate information.