Kathmandu- The Election Commission has brought social media activities under the election code of conduct, explicitly prohibiting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to influence voters or spread misinformation during the upcoming House of Representatives elections, scheduled for Falgun 21 (February 21).
According to the Commission, the code of conduct bars individuals or groups from operating fake social media accounts, pages, or websites with the intention of adversely affecting the election process. Any attempt to influence voters through misleading content, character assassination, hate speech, or fabricated information, whether generated manually or using AI tools, will invite legal action.
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The Commission has clearly stated that the use of AI technology to denigrate candidates, mislead voters, or manipulate public opinion on social media platforms is strictly prohibited. This restriction applies to all forms of online activity, including posting, reposting, commenting, live streaming, tagging, mentioning, or sharing content intended to influence the election outcome.
Similarly, the code of conduct bans the dissemination of false or misleading information, abusive remarks, defamatory content, and hate speech, as well as indirect efforts to shape voter behavior through deceptive digital practices.
The Commission has also warned against actions that could undermine the credibility of the election process or damage the reputation of the Election Commission, its commissioners, or employees. Producing, publishing, or broadcasting such materials through any medium is prohibited under the code.
In addition, the code strictly forbids any activity that may violate voter confidentiality, compromise electoral integrity, or affect the fairness and transparency of the election.
The Election Commission has announced that the code of conduct will be implemented from Magh 30, and monitoring mechanisms are being strengthened to ensure strict compliance, particularly in the digital and social media space.
