Kathmandu, September 7
Police have intensified monitoring of social media platforms to curb misinformation, rumours and misleading content that could undermine social harmony, particularly amid the ongoing crisis caused by the Bhotekoshi floods.
Police arrested 24-year-old Birendra Madai of Surnaya Rural Municipality-7, Baitadi, currently residing in Balambu, Chandragiri Municipality-12, Kathmandu, on Sunday for allegedly posting videos on Facebook Reels targeting various ethnic groups, making derogatory and insulting remarks and expressing happiness over the loss of life and property caused by the Bhotekoshi floods.
Police say Madai is only one example of a growing problem involving the spread of false information, rumours and misleading news, as well as insensitive comments directed at people affected by the disaster.
Nepal Police central spokesperson DIG Abi Narayan Kafle said police were closely monitoring social media to prevent activities that could cause further distress, spread fear or undermine social harmony during the humanitarian crisis.
According to the latest data, 173 pieces of misinformation and rumour-related content were identified on social media, including 168 on Facebook, four on TikTok and one on Instagram. Of these, 83 pieces—79 from Facebook and four from TikTok—have been removed through cyber monitoring efforts.
A 10-member committee led by Cyber Bureau DSP Gajendra Acharya has been formed to monitor such content, identify those involved and coordinate with concerned police offices and authorities for legal action.
Acharya said the committee was working to bring those deliberately spreading misinformation, rumours and misleading news under legal scrutiny. He added that people who unknowingly posted or shared problematic content were being warned and asked to remove it after the seriousness of the material was assessed.
Police are also monitoring possible fraud conducted in the name of collecting relief for disaster victims and other crimes that could exploit the disaster situation.
