Kathmandu-The strength of an organization correlates with its electoral success. Active party workers enable wider outreach and influence voter behavior.

This was the case in elections a decade ago. Campaign density was measured by printed materials like posters and T-shirts. However, this narrative has shifted in recent elections.

Nepal’s political parties have demonstrated that the internet cannot only shape public opinion on a large scale but also convert it into votes.

The dominance of internet algorithms in general elections is a topic of global debate. Many view this change negatively, as control over algorithms, rather than party organization and physical presence, now significantly influences elections, which are considered fundamental to democracy.

Fake claims and misinformation, along with coordinated smear content, spread rapidly, creating situations where candidates can be defeated.

Deepfakes have emerged as a major problem in recent elections worldwide. Political parties and candidates have misused technology for their own gain, undermining the integrity of elections. This misuse has become a defining challenge in recent polls.

Even in countries with strong regulation and direct corporate engagement, social media platforms that accelerate the spread of such content have struggled to control it.

In Nepal, the Election Commission has assessed that the risk will be even higher this time compared to the last election.

To address this issue, the Election Commission plans to reduce its impact through partnerships with civil society groups and organizations, in addition to its own mechanisms and resources from the Nepal Police. It also aims to bring digital platforms under the election code of conduct.

Election Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut announced that the commission has commenced efforts to curb harmful content at its origin by signing agreements with major social media companies.

These agreements have been reached with Facebook and TikTok, the two most widely used and influential platforms in Nepal.

Raut emphasized that over 80 percent of users are accessed through these two platforms, Meta and TikTok.

Consequently, the commission has signed agreements with them to directly address the source of fake information and election-sensitive content.

Furthermore, the commission will collaborate with Nepal-based fact-checking organizations to enhance its efforts.

Despite these initiatives, controlling harmful content remains a formidable challenge in a country where data regulation and systematic data storage are inadequate. Additionally, the absence of digital literacy poses another significant obstacle.