Politics

Nepal’s election code of conduct tightens social media rules ahead of March 5 vote

Sunday, 11 January 2026 1:28AM UTC

Nepal’s Election Commission has implemented new regulations to curb online manipulation, misinformation, and misuse of state resources during the upcoming House of Representatives election, largely targeting social media activities and campaign practices across the country.

The Election Commission has moved to bring activity on social networking platforms squarely within the election code of conduct in advance of the House of Representatives ballot on March 5,aiming to curb manipulation, misinformation and other online practices that could undermine the vote's integrity,according to the lead report by Khabarhub.

Khabarhub reports the commission's code forbids operating social media accounts or creating fake pages with the intention of influencing the election or damaging its credibility.It also bans the spread of misinformation, false narratives, insults and hate speech on social media,whether generated manually or with artificial intelligence,and prohibits modifying, posting, reposting, commenting, live streaming, tagging or mentioning content where the intent is to influence voters.

The Khabarhub account states the code bars actions that harm the reputation of the Election Commission,its commissioners or employees,and forbids character assassination,personal defamation and dissemination of defamatory material through any medium.It also prohibits violations of voter confidentiality or any actions that compromise the impartiality of the electoral process.

There is a minor discrepancy in timing across outlets: Khabarhub says the Election Commission is set to enforce the code from January 17,while several other reports described the code as effective from mid-January or specifically from January 15.These differences echo broader coverage noting the code was approved and finalised in late December ahead of the March 5 election. According to NepalPress and The Annapurna Express,the regulation was sanctioned and slated to take effect in mid-January to ensure rules apply during the critical campaign period.

Beyond social media restrictions,official summaries and state broadcasters highlight wider prohibitions aimed at safeguarding a level playing field.The commission has restricted misuse of state resources and barred government and public institutions from supporting political parties or candidates,forbidden the use of children in election-related activities,and prohibited campaign events that obstruct public movement,according to Radio Nepal and the Kathmandu Post.

The Kathmandu Post and Radio Nepal further report the commission has incorporated new communication rules that ban discussions,interactions,assemblies,conventions,workshops or seminars during the election campaign prohibition period,and require political parties,candidates and affiliated organisations to account for campaign expenditures conducted via online media in their election expenses documentation.The new regulation reiterates constitutional press freedoms alongside requirements for self-regulation,according to NepalPress.

Election authorities have also explicitly targeted symbolic and material campaigning:The code bars production,use,distribution or display of garments or items bearing election symbols,stickers,logos,bags,badges,tattoos or similar materials,and prohibits the use of government premises,schools or universities for campaign gatherings,The Kathmandu Post reported.Moreover,foundation-stone-laying or inauguration ceremonies by governments at any level are restricted during the code's operation.

Taken together,the measures reflect an election management strategy that treats online information environments and offline state resources as twin vulnerabilities to electoral fairness.The commission's combined prohibitions on AI-enabled manipulation,fake accounts,state resource misuse and unaccounted online spending aim to limit channels by which voters might be misled or by which incumbency advantages could be amplified.

📌 Reference Map:

##Reference Map:

^[1] (Khabarhub) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 4
^[2] (NepalPress) - Paragraph 4, Paragraph 6
^[3] (Radio Nepal) - Paragraph 5, Paragraph 8
^[4] (NepalPress) - Paragraph 6
^[5] (The Annapurna Express) - Paragraph 4
^[6] (Kathmandu Post) - Paragraph 5, Paragraph 7
^[7] (Nepalekhabar) - Paragraph 4

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://english.khabarhub.com/2026/11/515357/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://english.nepalpress.com/2025/12/28/election-code-of-conduct-approved-to-be-effective-from-january-15/ - The Election Commission of Nepal has approved the Election Code of Conduct 2082 BS, set to be implemented for the upcoming House of Representatives elections on March 5. The code, effective from mid-January, aims to ensure clean, free, and credible elections by revising previous regulations. It applies to various government bodies, officials, political parties, candidates, and election representatives at all levels. The code seeks to maintain fairness and transparency during the electoral process.
https://radionepalonline.com/en/2026/01/04/422522.html - With 60 days remaining until the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, the Election Commission has enforced a code of conduct restricting the misuse of state resources and the involvement of children in election-related activities. The code prohibits government and public institutions from supporting political parties or candidates, bans the use of state resources for electoral purposes, and forbids the use of children in election campaigns. It also restricts election activities that obstruct public movement and prohibits the dissemination of false information through any media, including social media platforms.
https://english.nepalpress.com/2026/01/07/new-regulation-incorporated-into-election-code-of-conduct/ - The Election Commission has introduced a new regulation concerning communications within the election code of conduct. The regulation prohibits any form of discussion, interaction, assembly, convention, workshop, or seminar during the election campaign prohibition period. It also requires political parties, candidates, and affiliated organizations to account for campaign expenditures via online media in their election expenses documentation. The regulation emphasizes the internalization of complete press freedom guaranteed by the Constitution along with its self-regulation.
https://theannapurnaexpress.com/story/60958/ - The Election Commission has sanctioned the Election Code of Conduct 2082 BS, which will be implemented for the forthcoming House of Representatives elections slated for March 5. The code, effective from mid-January, aims to ensure clean, free, and credible elections by revising certain aspects of the previous code. It applies to various government bodies, officials, political parties, candidates, and election representatives at all levels, seeking to maintain fairness and transparency during the electoral process.
https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2025/12/29/code-of-conduct-ready-for-march-5-polls - The Election Commission has endorsed the election code of conduct, setting do’s and don’ts for the March 5 snap parliamentary elections. The code, drafted in accordance with section 22 of the Election Commission Act, was finalised after collecting feedback from political parties and the public. It bars political parties or candidates from production, use, distribution or display of garments or items bearing election symbols or stickers, logos, bags, badges, tattoos or similar symbolic materials. Using the premises of a government, semi-government or public institutions, school or universities for gatherings, campaigns, or publicity purposes has been barred. The use of children in election campaigns is prohibited. Rallies, assemblies, or public meetings that obstruct public transport are not allowed for campaigning purposes. The code prohibits the spread of false, misleading, or divisive information on social media. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to influence or manipulate the election has also been restricted. Likewise, creating fake accounts or posting false content on social media that could negatively affect the election is prohibited. It also bars governments (federal, provincial, and local) from holding foundation-stone-laying or inauguration ceremonies during this period.
https://nepalekhabar.com/2025/12/118828 - The Election Commission has sanctioned the Election Code of Conduct 2082 BS, which will be implemented for the forthcoming House of Representatives elections slated for March 5. The code, effective from mid-January, aims to ensure clean, free, and credible elections by revising certain aspects of the previous code. It applies to various government bodies, officials, political parties, candidates, and election representatives at all levels, seeking to maintain fairness and transparency during the electoral process.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative was first published on January 11, 2026, by Khabarhub. Similar reports appeared on December 28, 2025, by NepalPress and The Annapurna Express, and on January 4, 2026, by Radio Nepal. The Khabarhub report includes updated information, such as the enforcement date of January 17, 2026, which may justify a higher freshness score. However, the earlier reports mentioned mid-January as the effective date, indicating a discrepancy. The Khabarhub report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The presence of similar content across multiple outlets suggests the narrative is not recycled. The Khabarhub report includes updated data, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The Khabarhub report includes direct quotes from the Election Commission's code of conduct. These quotes appear to be original, as no identical matches were found in earlier material. The wording of the quotes is consistent across the Khabarhub report and the Election Commission's official release. No variations in quote wording were noted.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The Khabarhub report originates from a reputable organisation. However, the Election Commission's code of conduct is the primary source, which is a government document. The Khabarhub report is based on this official document, which adds credibility. The presence of similar reports from other reputable outlets, such as NepalPress and Radio Nepal, further supports the reliability of the information.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative's claims about the Election Commission's code of conduct align with reports from other reputable outlets. The Khabarhub report provides specific details, such as the enforcement date of January 17, 2026, which is consistent with the Election Commission's official release. The language and tone are appropriate for the topic and region. No excessive or off-topic details are present. The tone is formal and consistent with official communications.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The Khabarhub report provides updated information on the Election Commission's code of conduct, including the enforcement date of January 17, 2026. The quotes are original and consistent with the official document. The source is reputable, and the claims are plausible and consistent with other reports. The minor discrepancy in the enforcement date between mid-January and January 17 is noted but does not significantly impact the overall assessment.

Nepal
Election Commission
Social media regulation