As Nepal heads toward the March 5 House of Representatives (HoR) election, the country’s democratic process is facing a challenge it has never encountered at this scale: the rapid spread of deepfakes, fake news and AI-generated misinformation. What was once dismissed as harmless online mischief has now become a serious threat to election integrity, public trust and social stability. A recent viral video involving Balendra Shah (Balen), a HoR candidate from Jhapa constituency no. 5, captures the gravity of the problem. The clip, showing Shah aggressively pushing his own party cadres in Damak, first drew praise from supporters who saw it as a display of assertive leadership. Soon after, criticism followed, with many questioning his temperament. When Shah’s team claimed the video was a deepfake, the controversy only deepened. Even days later, AI experts have been unable to conclusively determine whether the video is manipulated or authentic. The damage, however, was already done. This episode is not an isolated one. Another widely shared image showed the coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party Pushpa Kamal Dahal appearing to cry while holding a photograph of a “martyr” from the decade-long civil war. For digitally savvy users, the image was an obvious fabrication. But for many others—particularly older citizens or those with limited digital literacy—it appeared genuine, evoking sympathy or outrage. From fabricated images of leaders crying, dancing or begging for votes to AI-generated videos, audio clips and even songs filled with inflammatory political messages, Nepal’s social media space has been flooded with misleading and often toxic content. This is likely to grow further as the election date nears further.
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Experts note that artificial intelligence is being used during this election primarily to defame opponents and artificially manufacture public support. Instead of debating manifestos, ideologies and policy promises, voters are increasingly trapped in a fog of uncertainty, struggling to distinguish truth from fiction. This erosion of meaningful political discourse is a worrying sign for any democracy. The Election Commission (EC) deserves credit for recognising the threat and bringing social media activities under the election code of conduct from January 17. The code bans fake accounts, misinformation, hate speech and the belittling of candidates, regardless of whether AI is used. It empowers the EC to issue warnings, impose fines of up to Rs 100,000 and even cancel candidacies. Yet enforcement remains a formidable challenge. EC officials say they are receiving more than 100 complaints a day related to social media violations—an indication of both the scale of the problem and the limits of regulatory capacity. With the election just weeks away, there is little room for a comprehensive nationwide digital literacy campaign. Fact-checkers and some media outlets are doing their part, but corrections rarely travel as far or as fast as falsehoods. The government’s recent directive to law enforcement agencies and the Cyber Bureau to act swiftly against misinformation is a step in the right direction, but reactive measures alone will not suffice. The government agencies concerned must take proactive measures to effectively tackle this menace.
Deepfakes represent a modern form of deception—highly convincing, emotionally manipulative and dangerously effective. When deployed in elections, they undermine the very idea of free and fair choice. Worse, in an already polarised environment, such content can inflame passions, provoke hatred and even trigger violence. Given Nepal’s low overall digital literacy, the risks are amplified. If voters are influenced by lies, character assassination and manufactured outrage, the legitimacy of the election itself comes into question. Failure to control this menace in time could have devastating consequences for the country’s democratic future. The EC must act firmly, fearlessly and impartially, seeking cooperation from independent experts, state agencies and social media platforms. Political parties also must take responsibility by restraining their supporters and rejecting negative campaigning. Democracy cannot thrive on deception. Elections won through deepfakes and disinformation may deliver power, but they can never deliver moral legitimacy. How we collectively respond to the challenge of AI-driven misinformation today will shape not only the outcome of this election, but the future credibility of its democratic institutions.
