Kathmandu: The Election Commission has stepped up regulation of social media and digital platforms to ensure the House of Representatives elections scheduled for Falgun 21 are conducted in a free and fair manner.

The first meeting of the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, formed under Section 26 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, has decided to establish a special and effective mechanism to curb misinformation and hate speech disseminated through digital and technological means.

The meeting was chaired by committee coordinator and Election Commissioner Sagun Shumsher Jabra. Addressing the gathering, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari stressed the need for strong coordination among regulatory bodies, investigation agencies and prosecution authorities to prevent the misuse of technology during the election period.

Noting that the influence of social media has grown further following the “Gen-G” movement, the Commission has adopted a dual strategy that combines punitive measures with public awareness campaigns to counter misleading propaganda, including content generated through artificial intelligence and other digital platforms.

During the meeting, Election Commissioner Dr Janaki Kumari Tuladhar said the code of conduct would be fully enforced soon after consultations with political parties. Secretaries from various ministries and heads of security agencies also attended the meeting and expressed their commitment to closely monitor and take action against violations of the election code of conduct on social media throughout the election period.