Ahead of Nepal’s impending snap elections on March 5, a fake film starring three prominent Nepali politicians has revealed how AI is being used as a weapon.
The video, which is entirely computer-generated, shows former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, former power chief Kulman Ghisingh and Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Ravi Lamichhane walking together.
When the video spread on the internet, many thought new political alliances might be formed. However, this encounter was entirely computer-generated, so the three politician I’ve never actually met him.
This fake video is just one example of AI-generated content that is permeating Nepal’s digital space as the vote approaches. elections will be held simply 6 months rear Violent demonstrations led by young people demanding an end to corruption. These protests led to the ouster of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and threw the country’s political system into chaos.
This crisis of trust has resulted in a surge in digital counterfeiting targeting celebrities. Rastriya Swatantra Party deputy leader Swarnim Wagle has filed a complaint with the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau. A fake audio tape was created to give the impression that he had met with the Indian Prime Minister, which never happened.
As Poynter’s fact-checking efforts demonstrate, these fake audios pose a unique risk to Nepal. Voice messages travel quickly through family chat groups and social media, often reaching recipients who cannot verify their authenticity. The unreliability of the tools used to identify altered audio means that the public has limited means of distinguishing truth from falsehood.
Government attempts to control the problem often make things worse. Facebook, X, and YouTube were blocked by authorities during demonstrations in September because they failed to register with regulators.
Rather than calming tensions, the ban sparked more violence. Reuters recorded that at least 77 people were killed and thousands injured in the ensuing chaos. Although authorities eventually lifted the restrictions, the incident showed why heavy-handed deterrence doesn’t work. Misinformation simply moved into channels that were difficult to monitor.
Nepal’s Election Commission has attempted to address these challenges through policy. The 2021 Policy on the Use of Social Media in Election Administration set out initial guidelines. A new draft code of conduct for the upcoming vote specifically prohibits false information and fake accounts aimed at swaying voters.
But experts warn that these rules urgently need to be updated for the era of generative AI. The question remains unanswered: What exactly is synthetic media? Should campaigns publish AI-assisted content? Who is responsible if misinformation spreads?
Experts call for coordinated response response
Without perfect regulations in place, experts and watchdog groups are calling for broader solutions. Poynter and similar media outlets recommend several steps. News organizations and fact-checkers need to investigate every viral video like a crime, tracing its origins and showing how they verified it.
Political parties and candidates must commit not to use deepfakes, and AI-generated material must be clearly labeled. Social media companies need to establish rapid response teams familiar with Nepal’s language and politics. The public should take a “10-second triage” approach: stop, look, and confirm before sharing shocking claims.
The Nepal Police Cyber Bureau is already preparing for more technologically advanced attacks. SP Ray, an official at the bureau, said, “AI is getting bigger and bigger and being used in more ways. We may soon see crimes and cyber-attacks caused by AI.” Easier.”
Ray also noted that because the technology is relatively new, there may be some leeway. he believes in AI technology is still in its early stages and has only recently become popular, so it may take some time before it can be used as a tool of destruction.
“We are and should be well-prepared to fight these crimes and threats,” Ray said. He further reassured that “Nepal police can investigate any action. It is only foreign attacks that take time to investigate.” soil.“
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