Checking Disinformation

With the March 5 House of Representatives elections approaching, disinformation campaigns have emerged as a formidable threat to free and fair elections. Social media platforms have become inundated with disinformation. Turbocharging the campaigns to distort reality and manipulate voters to one's advantage is the artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The matter has become so serious that it has led many to ask whether it could undermine the sanctity of the election. 

In one high-profile instance, an AI-generated image shows a prominent election candidate being driven away by the public. In another, a fake video shows a notable candidate being threatened with stark physical violence once he arrives for electioneering. Such and more videos have been doing the rounds on social media like wildfire, sparking public concern and outrage. In response, the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police has been actively working to identify and apprehend those involved and take legal action. 

Police have warned the public not to make or share violent threats online, cautioning that such actions could invite serious legal consequences. By Sunday, the Election Commission (EC) had identified 302 harmful pieces of content and forwarded them to relevant authorities, including the Cyber Bureau, the Press Council, and the EC's Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, for necessary action. Most disinformation and fake information are said to come from political parties, their leaders, and their activities. 

The content is designed to shape political debate and construct false narratives with the ultimate goal of misleading the public. The number of views directly translates to money made; the more views, the more money. This monetisation of social media has incentivised unscrupulous content creators to prioritise sensational stories, whether true or misleading, that attract more views over those that convey truth. As lies spread faster than truth, fake narratives are damaging.

According to a news story carried by this daily the other day, authorities face multiple obstacles in addressing the surge in disinformation, including legal constraints, limited manpower, and coordination challenges. Police have noted that the explosive growth of social media and the digital ecosystem has far outpaced prevailing laws to govern them, impeding efforts to combat disinformation. 

Another major obstacle is the lack of digital governance and diplomacy that the nation lacks. Unlike many countries that have established pre-election coordination mechanisms with social media platforms, Nepal has yet to make similar deals. However, the good news is that the EC is reportedly negotiating memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Meta and TikTok to curb disinformation, inking a MoU with TikTok to curb such misinformation on February 5. 

The electoral code of conduct stipulates fines of up to Rs. 100,000 for spreading false information on social media. As per the existing law, those who disseminate content undermining the country's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national unity may face fines of up to Rs. 200,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both. 

Elections hinge on trust, informed voters, and acceptance of results for the smooth transition of power from the outgoing government to the incoming one. Disinformation undermines all of these. Democracy assumes voters make the right decision based on the right information. But when they are manipulated to vote based on lies, the outcome may not reflect the true will of the people. Disinformation is designed to trigger strong emotions, such as anger, fear, and hatred.  This gives rise to deep polarisations, making the election battleground rather a democratic exercise. This must be tackled right away.