Jubilee Post News & Views
Dr. Utkarsh Sinha
The upcoming elections in Nepal are under the close watch of major global powers. Since the “Gen-Z movement,” both the United States and China have shown increasing interest in Nepal’s politics, and each of them wants a government in Kathmandu that is favourable to its strategic interests.
In India and many other countries, digital media has begun to play a decisive role in elections. Political parties and candidates make extensive use of social media, digital advertising, and online campaigns to reach voters, but along with this, the threat of misleading and incendiary propaganda has also grown rapidly. A visible example of this can be seen in India, where IT cells push fake news and doctored videos on social media through paid boosts.
This is precisely where Nepal’s Election Commission stands out as more cautious and much stricter. For the upcoming elections, the Commission has imposed a direct ban on sponsored or boosted election-related campaigns on social media, and by issuing the “Election Code of Conduct, 2082” (as per the Nepali calendar), it has laid down stringent rules governing the use of social media.
Ban on Paid Political Ads on Foreign Platforms
Under the new code of conduct, the publication and broadcast of election-related promotional content through foreign media platforms has been completely prohibited. Since Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X (Twitter) are all foreign platforms, paid political advertisements will not be allowed on them.
However, this does not mean that political parties or candidates will be entirely cut off from the digital space. They are permitted to host election-related material on their own private and official websites, and they may share information and messages from their official social media accounts, as long as they do not pay to boost or advertise that content.
Online News Portals and Transparent Labelling of Ads
The Commission has also stipulated that only those online news portals that are registered with the Department of Information and Broadcasting and are duly listed with the Press Council will be allowed to publish election-related advertisements. Whenever such portals run roadblocks, content blocks, or banner ads, they will be required to clearly label them as “paid advertisements.”
On the other hand, regular web pages, TV channel scrolls, digital displays in shopping malls, and screens on bank ATMs will not be allowed to carry any election propaganda at all. In this way, the Commission has deliberately narrowed the field of election advertising to a few standardised and accountable platforms.
Tight Controls on AI, Deepfakes, and Hate Speech
One of the most striking features of the new code of conduct is that it does not limit itself to traditional or basic digital publicity, but directly addresses artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies. The Commission recognises that even a small piece of misinformation in the digital sphere can deeply distort democratic practice, and therefore both caution and responsibility are essential in the use of technology.
Driven by this concern, the Commission has imposed strict prohibitions on AI-based misuse. No person is allowed to use AI to spread misleading information on social media, nor to tamper with video or audio to create deepfakes, nor to disseminate hate speech or other forms of hateful expression. Any such act—or attempt to have it done—will be treated as a serious violation of the code of conduct.
Fake Accounts, Live Streams, and Voters’ Responsibility
To prevent the manipulation of elections, creating fake accounts or bogus websites on social media with the intention of influencing the polls has also been banned. Posting, sharing, commenting, replying to comments, tagging, or live streaming in favour of or against any candidate or party are activities that have now been explicitly brought within the ambit of the code of conduct.
What is particularly noteworthy is that the Commission does not place responsibility only on candidates and parties; it extends it to voters as well. Voters will not be allowed to spread baseless or misleading content in favour of or against any individual or party through social media. In other words, the responsibility to break the chain of misinformation has been distributed across all levels of society.
Technology-Enabled Monitoring
To enforce digital discipline, the Commission has modernised its monitoring mechanism in a technology-friendly manner. For tracking violations of the code of conduct, it will use electronic means and information technology, and a dedicated monitoring team will keep watch over activities on social media and other digital platforms.
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This team will be able to record videos of incidents involving violations of the code of conduct, and such recordings can later be used as evidence in legal proceedings. In this way, technology is not just a medium of campaign communication, but also a tool for safeguarding electoral integrity.
Voting Process, Privacy, and “Green Elections”
At the level of election management as well, Nepal’s Election Commission is expanding the controlled and institutional use of technology. The use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the polling process has been made possible, and the digital ballots recorded in these machines have been granted full legal validity.
At the same time, the use of mobile phones, cameras, or drones at polling stations without prior permission has been prohibited, in order to protect voter privacy and the sanctity of the ballot. This measure will help ensure that polling locations remain free from any form of live recording or real-time propaganda.
From an environmental perspective, the Commission has advanced the idea of “green elections” by urging a shift away from paper and plastic-based campaign materials towards digital publicity. Candidates are expected to prioritise campaigning through digital content released via their official websites and official social media pages.
Penalties, Deterrence, and the Larger Message
If any person uses social media or other digital technologies in violation of the code of conduct, then under the provisions of the Election Commission Act, 2073, a fine of up to one lakh rupees can be imposed, and in serious cases, the candidate’s nomination itself can be cancelled.
Seen together, all these provisions make it clear that Nepal’s Election Commission views digital media not only as an opportunity, but also as a serious source of risk and challenge for the democratic process. Through strict rules, technology-enabled monitoring, and clear punitive measures, the Commission is sending a strong message: if electoral democracy is to be protected, disciplining the digital sphere is no longer optional—it has become indispensable.
(Author is a senior journalist and specialist of International politics)
