‘Cyber Police’ unit to be set up to control poll misinformation

KATHMANDU:- The government has decided to deploy a ‘cyber police’ unit to curb possible spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media during the upcoming House of Representatives elections.

With the election scheduled for March 5, the decision was taken after assessing the risk of candidates engaging in smear campaigns against one another through social media platforms, according to Home Ministry’s Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Ananda Kafle.

For this purpose, the Ministry of Home Affairs has activated the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau. A monitoring desk has been set up at the Cyber Bureau office in Bhotahity, Kathmandu, from where surveillance of social media platforms has already begun, informed Kafle.

The Election Commission is also developing software to monitor social media activities, he added.

Authorities have instructed district police offices to take action, including making arrests, if individuals are found publishing or broadcasting misleading or malicious content during monitoring.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal said coordination has been established with telephone service providers and internet service providers to control the spread of deepfake content. He warned that legal action would be taken against anyone who publishes or disseminates criminal content on social media during the election period.