On March 24, 2023, a program titled “Misinformation Landscape: Interaction, Policy Concerns and Way Forward” was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, with the objective of addressing policy discourse on misinformation and mitigating the challenges of misinformation in Nepali society.
During the event, National Information Commissioner Mahendra Man Gurung emphasized the importance of timely dissemination of accurate information to combat misinformation.
Gurung recommended that policy interventions should assess whether existing policies can address concerns related to misinformation, rather than solely creating new legal mechanisms. He cautioned against targeting only those who engage in misinformation, as it may negatively impact the overall functioning of media and society. Gurung also recommended that self-regulation is a key mechanism to combat misinformation.
Communication Registrar of Bagmati Province Rewati Sapkota endorsed the notion of self-regulation and stressed that the emphasis should be on creating good content by journalists to ensure reliable information is disseminated widely through social media.
Sapkota suggested that strengthening the reliable media industry and promoting ethical reporting by mainstreaming media that rely on viral posts are major strategies to tackle misinformation.
Netra Prasad Subedi, Spokesperson and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, stated that the government is cautious about how laws will affect users. Subedi also informed that the drafting of a new law on media will cover digital media.
Media expert Raghu Mainali highlighted the importance of strengthening formal channels such as news media and community media for factual and objectively verifiable journalism. He also emphasized the need for media literacy and proactive disclosure of misinformation, considering regulation as the last option.
Shreejana Aryal, Secretary at Nepal Federation of Nepali Journalist, expressed that disregarding formal media channels is a major problem linked with misinformation. Journalists are often compelled to report based on the content disseminated by sources.
Jhabindra Bhusal, Chief Administrative Officer of Press Council Nepal, emphasized the need for digital literacy and suggested that changes in technology have resulted in confusion regarding calling YouTubers as content creators or journalists.
Indra Kumari Adhikari, Board Member of Nepal Policy Institute, believed that it is necessary to focus on public literacy about what to and what not to share online. She highlighted that political parties are engaged in developing cyber armies, which are considered major propagators of misinformation and disinformation.
Lekhanth Pandey, Assistant Professor of Tribhuvan University, presented the research paper on Misinformation Landscape Study. He identified social media as the primary source of misinformation, with Facebook being the most commonly cited platform. Pandey added that the widespread impact of misinformation in Nepali society, beyond politics and media, has the potential to exacerbate social tensions, violence, and delay in justice and infrastructure development.
Overall, 30 people from different sectors participated in the program and provided their insights on the need to tackle misinformation through policy discourse, media literacy, and self-regulation.