Study points to the need to address communication risks during elections

 Kathmandu, July 19

A recent study by Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) has concluded that legal and institutional reforms are needed to address the growing risks associated with the use of digital platforms in elections, as political campaigning and voter engagement increasingly move online.

It recommended establishing a digital election monitoring mechanism to oversee online campaigning and regulate the misuse of digital platforms during elections.

The report, 'Use and Impact of Digital Spaces in Nepal's Election 2026', analysed the use of digital technologies during the House of Representatives election held in March 5 this year. It found that while digital platforms expanded access to information and public participation, they also introduced challenges including AI-generated misleading content, concerns over voter data privacy, micro-targeted political advertising, online gender-based violence, limited transparency in digital campaigning and weak accountability by social media platforms.

The report recommends that the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) conduct a comprehensive review of the use and misuse of digital platforms during the 2026 parliamentary election and publish guidance on the digital code of conduct required for future polls.

It also calls on the ECN to develop a dedicated Digital Election Integrity Framework and issue clear guidelines on digital campaigning and the use of artificial intelligence in elections.

Likewise, for the government, the report recommends enacting dedicated personal data protection legislation and updating laws governing digital election campaigns, artificial intelligence, political advertising and platform accountability. It also calls for an inter-agency coordination mechanism to manage digital election risks and nationwide programmes on digital, media and electoral literacy.

The government should introduce legal measures against technology-facilitated gender-based violence and ensure that election security and digital monitoring remain under civilian oversight.   

Similarly, the report recommends that digital platforms improve transparency in political advertising, establish local contact points in Nepal, and strengthen their ability to detect coordinated disinformation campaigns and AI-generated or manipulated content in Nepali written in both Devanagari and Roman scripts. According to the report, they should provide qualified researchers and accredited election observers with access to relevant platform data while protecting user privacy.

It also urges political parties and candidates to commit to ethical digital campaigning by avoiding misinformation, hate speech, AI-generated deceptive content, voter manipulation and coordinated online harassment. The report further recommends disclosure of digital campaign expenditure and advertising, along with training on election law and digital conduct for campaign workers.

Civil society organisations and fact-checking groups are suggested to continue independent monitoring of online election campaigns, and expand fact-checking and digital literacy initiatives. Institutionalising monitoring standards and advocating for digital governance that protects freedom of expression and press freedom are also the concerns.

The DRN informed that the study examined laws and policies governing digital election activities, the use of social media and artificial intelligence, voter data management, information integrity and platform accountability. The findings were based on interviews with stakeholders, discussions with experts and focus groups, reviews of laws and policies, and monitoring of digital platforms throughout the election period.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 July 2026.