Media Monitoring Observation and Analysis for January, 2026

by | Feb 25, 2026 | Access, Amplify, Consent, Economy, Expression, Governance, Information, Movement Building, Privacy & Data, research, Usage, Violence

Media Monitoring on Election 

In Nepal, the election for members of the House of Representatives is scheduled for March 5, 2026. As the country approaches the election period, numerous incidents related to digital rights have been observed. They range from privacy breaches and misinformation to TFGBV. Our media monitoring during January recorded the following key observations concerning the digital space in the context of the election:

1.1. Privacy Breach

As the election draws nearer, voter privacy is more at risk, which is proven by the transition from data leaks to institutionalized data commodification. During the 2022 elections, Body & Data highlighted alarming vulnerabilities, noting that voter information was easily accessible through the Election Commission’s (EC) portal which is still active today.

The Election Commission has made a provision to digitally provide voter details to political parties for a nominal fee. This commercialization of personal data poses severe constitutional and statutory threats. By facilitating the mass distribution of voter details, the EC is enabling profiling and targeted messaging without the consent of the voters. Moreover, “nominal fee” is a barrier for grassroots leaders, but it is an open door for established, well-funded political parties. This creates a “pay-to-play” ecosystem where data and the ability to influence are consolidated in the hands of the already powerful, which makes it difficult to decentralize the power.  

While the government has implemented safeguards, they are not sufficient as the current practice remains inconsistent with the right to privacy enshrined in the Constitution and the Individual Privacy Act, 2018. In response to this, Digital Rights Nepal has advised the Election Commission to immediately suspend the digital distribution of voter details to political parties.

“Nepali for Nepal”, a group publicly claimed responsibility for breaching multiple government websites, explicitly stating that their actions were carried out at the behest of pro-monarchist figures, including Durga Prasai. While the group claims its intent was not data theft but rather a form of protest, once a system is breached, the integrity of all data within that system is called into question. By framing hacking as a heroic or patriotic act, leaders can distance themselves from the illegality while reaping the rewards of the chaos. This is a form of political grooming that puts young people at high legal risk while the architects of the protest remain protected by their status.

Voter data privacy is more at risk during the election, as we observed a massive digital privacy breach this month. Approximately 50 Lakh Nepal Telecom users received unsolicited SMS messages calling for royalist protests via the “AT Alert” system—a tool typically reserved for emergency or public interest notifications. Subsequently, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Police arrested Nirdesh Sedhai for sending the messages. Initial investigations found that he obtained access to the phone numbers through telecommunications channels, spending approximately NPR 10 million.  When citizens’ private contact information is hijacked for political mobilization without consent, it poses a direct threat to national stability and individual safety. In this context, it is not enough to arrest individual actors as the government institutions and regulatory bodies themselves must be held accountable for failing to secure the digital infrastructure they oversee.

1.2. Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women in Politics

In the current electoral landscape, women’s representation remains a fragile gain, constantly under threat from intensified Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV). While women candidates navigate a political structure already weighted against them, those who achieve visibility are frequently met with weaponized misogyny that targets their bodies, reproductive choices, and right to public space.

One of the examples that we observed during this month was the reaction towards Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Ranju Darshana, who faced harassment on social media over her pregnancy and decision to contest the election. During her campaign, Darshana was subjected to a barrage of sexist vitriol and mocking comments regarding her pregnancy and her physical capability to lead. These attacks were not merely “political disagreements” but were a form of policing, using her pregnancy to delegitimize her candidacy and reinforce the patriarchal notion that a woman’s “proper place” is the private sphere, particularly during motherhood.

1.3. Misinformation and Disinformation in digital spaces

This month, there has been a rise in fake content related to politics, including political misinformation and digital manipulation. The misleading and manipulated content is being used to distort political narratives, inflame social divisions, and damage reputations. It is a sophisticated form of informational warfare that uses digital tools to damage reputations and destabilize the democratic process.

For example, a Facebook page called Nepal Tas falsely claimed that President Ramchandra Paudel and leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) support restoring the monarchy in Nepal.

Moreover, a screenshot falsely attributed to public figure Balen Shah, claiming he posted casteist and abusive remarks on Facebook, was found to be edited and fake. 

Though proven entirely false, the speed and scale of its distribution could trigger pre-existing political anxieties and mislead voters. This attempt to weaponize social identity demonstrates how digital manipulation is being exploited with the increasing use of AI-generated videos and photos. When voters cannot distinguish between an authentic statement and an AI-generated lie, their ability to make a free and fair choice is compromised.

1.4. Efforts from the government authorities in monitoring Digital Space

As the country heads up for the election, the Election Commission has expanded its digital monitoring efforts by using AI-based tools such as the UNDP-supported “e-Monitor Plus” system. The Commission has also partnered with TechPana for election media monitoring. In addition, coordination with the Cyber Bureau, the Press Council, and security agencies aims to curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

The Election Commission has initiated action against disinformation and hate speech, identifying 302 harmful posts. According to the Commission, such content will be removed and complaints forwarded to the relevant bodies. The involvement of different agencies and the use of AI-driven tools raise questions regarding transparency, proportionality, and accountability. Without clear oversight, the tools designed to protect democracy may inadvertently stifle legitimate political expression and infringe upon the fundamental digital rights of citizens. When we combine the mass SMS breach, the selling of voter data, and AI state monitoring, the citizen is completely exposed to the state and political parties.

Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence

In Nepal, digital platforms have increasingly been exploited where identity is weaponized to fuel hate and incite physical violence. Digital spaces are increasingly used to propagate racial discrimination and spread hate speech against specific religions and communities. 

This was seen in Madhesh Province, where TikTok was used to spread anti-Muslim rhetoric, which led to protests and violence, resulting in an attack on a mosque. These incidents demonstrate the real-world consequences of unchecked digital speech, particularly in sensitive social, religious and political contexts.

Regarding platform accountability, TikTok data shows that it removed nearly three lakh misleading videos in Nepal over the past two years. While these removals are largely classified as action against misleading content, the standards, processes, and accountability mechanisms guiding moderation remain unclear. For marginalized communities like Dalit, Indigenous Peoples, Madhesi, Person with Disabilities and queer individuals, these platforms are important for visibility, yet they are often the first to be silenced by unclear moderation standards while coordinated harassment campaigns remain active. A critical digital safety framework must move beyond protecting state institutions and instead focus on holding platforms accountable for the specific ways they allow identity politics to be used as a tool for harm and exclusion.

Online Harms and Digital Safety

The advancement of technology and digital tools has brought a troubling rise in technology-facilitated Gender Based Violence across Nepal. The patriarchal patterns of abuse and power control over women are now increasingly reflected in digital spaces. In Dhangadhi, a 34-year-old man was arrested for sharing private and nude video call recordings of his neighbour on Facebook in an act of revenge. As he had committed similar offences before, prosecutors are seeking a harsher penalty due to repeated violations. In another case, a 29-year-old man from Birgunj has been charged at the Kathmandu District Court for allegedly creating a fake TikTok account and sending abusive and defamatory messages to his former girlfriend. He was even found sharing her semi-nude photos without consent. Similarly, a 39-year-old woman from Palpa has been charged for allegedly sharing a private non-consensual video of another woman via WhatsApp. These episodes of abuse reflect the growing misuse of digital platforms for harassment and exploitation. Such patterns call for an urgent need for stronger prevention measures, responsive and effective remedies, digital critical literacy, and strong protection for victims.

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