Leaders Face Cyber Attacks, Raising Serious Concerns Over Cybersecurity

A photo depicting RSP candidate for the House of Representative election from Tanahun–1, Dr Swarnim Wagle, in yellow attire alongside temple priests recently went viral on social media.

Sharing that same photo along with a Wikipedia screenshot, Bagamati Province lawmaker Laxmi Ghimire wrote on Facebook: "Even those who follow Christianity have to seek refuge in Hinduism during elections. Wake up public, let's not be fooled always."

Similarly, a Facebook user named Mohan Lama Rumba also shared a screenshot with the caption, "Quick, quick, edit this Wikipedia entry and add 'Sri Sri Sri 10008 Swami Swarnimeshwar Maharaj, Ghanteshwar Peethadheesh' to the religion section."

The Wikipedia screenshots list Dr. Swarnim Wagle's religion as Christian. Social media is currently rife with propaganda claiming Wagle is Christian.

The objective of this propaganda is to create a narrative that Wagle disrespects Hinduism. Cyber attacks and hate speech against Dr. Wagle are spreading across social networks. Looking at his Wikipedia history, his Wikipedia profile was edited approximately 150 times in two days.

Attempts have been made to write on Wikipedia that he worked as a mission member to establish the Barbara Foundation and churches in Nepal. Writing content on Wikipedia or editing existing content requires simply creating a basic Wikipedia account and logging in. However, sources for the information being edited must be mandatorily cited. This technology is currently being misused to spread baseless propaganda against Dr. Wagle.

Dr. Wagle has already filed a complaint at the Cyber Bureau against those carrying out cyber attacks and propaganda against him. His secretariat stated that he filed a complaint at Nepal Police's Cyber Bureau alleging that propaganda was being spread on social media with the intention of creating confusion against him and disrupting religious and social harmony.

In the complaint filed online with the Bureau, Dr. Wagle has claimed that Bagamati Province lawmaker Laxmi Ghimire and another individual Mohan Lama Rumba, among others, shared and promoted materials targeting him on social media. He has requested the Cyber Bureau to remove those materials and investigate and take necessary action against the culprits.

Like Wagle, dozens of leaders are falling victim to cyber attacks. With the House of Representatives election approaching, numerous attempts are being made to character assassinate candidates through cyber attacks to weaken them. AI has been misused to character assassinate some candidates, while others face attacks through Wikipedia edits.

Using AI misuse specifically, cyber attacks are being carried out against CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa, UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet, Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane, and RSP senior leader Balendra Shah. Deep fake videos of them are ubiquitous on TikTok and Facebook.

From Fleeing by Helicopter to Grazing Goats

Specifically, misusing AI on TikTok, character assassination attempts are being made through videos with scripts showing CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli fleeing by helicopter, being chased by people, ringing bells, and saying "Forgive us, we couldn't deliver."

Similarly, AI videos with scripts showing Congress leader Gagan Thapa grazing goats, ringing bells, and being chased by people are being created to assassinate his character. To character assassinate RSP President Rabi Lamichhane, videos showing him carrying cooperative embezzled money in a basket and being chased by people have been created. RSP senior leader Balendra Shah, whom the party has projected as the prime ministerial candidate, has also faced cyber attacks.

Users have used AI to depict Balen burning Singha Durbar and present him with Lucifer looks. Former journalist and Aam Janata Party candidate Rishi Dhamala has also fallen victim to cyber attacks. Videos showing him performing various activities set to the song "Tere Naam" have gone viral on social media.

Specifically, Dhamala has been presented through AI in a humorous manner. Such videos are receiving numerous likes and comments.

Opposition leaders and activists have been sharing such videos character assassinating leaders through AI. Some AI videos show leaders addressing sheep, attempting to portray citizens as sheep.

Mechanisms Conducting Investigation

According to the Cyber Bureau under Nepal Police, complaints regarding such character assassination are increasing recently. SP Dipak Raj Awasti stated that investigations are underway. "Complaints are being filed daily at the Election Commission and police claiming character assassination through AI on TikTok and Facebook; we are investigating," Awasti said. He stated they are closely monitoring the misuse of cyber technology for propaganda and character assassination.

According to him, with the rapid development and increasing use of information technology, its misuse in criminal activities is also rising. Consequently, new styles and trends of crime are making criminal investigation increasingly challenging. The Bureau, established to face such challenges, has intensified its investigations.

The Election Commission has also stated it has formed a high-level mechanism for monitoring. According to the Commission, using AI to assassinate someone's character violates the code of conduct. Commission Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said the Election Commission has formed a high-level committee led by a joint secretary to monitor those engaging in such activities. "We have formed a mechanism including Nepal Police and IT experts and are recommending action against such individuals to the police," he said.

According to Bhattarai, the committee analyzes social media posts daily, lists those violating the code of conduct, and writes to concerned bodies to remove them and take action. The Election Commission has also reached an understanding with social media platforms to remove such posts.

Serious Concerns

Twenty civil society organizations working to promote democracy, press freedom, and digital rights have expressed serious concern over cybersecurity and the increasing risk of misinformation and disinformation in the context of the upcoming House of Representatives election.

Issuing a joint statement, they drew the government and Election Commission's attention to addressing these digital challenges as matters of national security to ensure free and fair elections.

They consider the overall pre-election situation, especially the final three days before polling, extremely sensitive. The organizations warned that Nepal's election could be used as a "testing ground" for disinformation and information manipulation, which could cause irreparable damage to electoral credibility, social harmony, and public trust.

They concluded that while the Election Commission and some organizations appear active in identifying misinformation, the overall election monitoring mechanism has not been sufficiently proactive regarding this serious challenge.

The statement demanded that the government immediately provide adequate resources, manpower, and technical capacity to Nepal Police's Cyber Bureau, as cybersecurity in the digital age directly impacts democratic stability. It also suggested the Election Commission immediately coordinate with international social media platforms like Meta and TikTok to play an active role in identifying and controlling false content. Attention was also drawn to making social media content creators who influence public opinion formation responsible and accountable, and intensifying awareness campaigns against misinformation.

Regarding the media sector, the organizations requested developing common mechanisms like a "Disinformation Dashboard" for editors and journalists, and establishing a rapid fact-based rebuttal system.

Organizations expressing solidarity include Digital Rights Nepal, Dignity Initiative, Center for Media Research-Nepal, Freedom Forum, Open Internet Nepal, Media Advocacy Group (MAG), ChildSafeNet, Digital Media Foundation, Media Action Nepal, and Human Rights and Justice Center, among others. Their common conclusion is that electoral credibility is determined not only by secure ballot boxes but by public opinion based on factual information.