Be responsible on social media or face legal action

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police has issued a stern warning to social media users, especially the youth, to exercise caution ahead of the upcoming elections.

With young people increasingly active online, authorities emphasize that sharing offensive content or false information, whether knowingly or unknowingly, can lead to legal action.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Avin Narayan Kafle, the police are closely monitoring social media for misuse. “A dedicated team has been set up to track online activity, and the Cyber Bureau is also conducting detailed surveillance,” he said.

Kafle stressed that using social media or other online platforms to spread false information, harm someone’s reputation, incite communal, ethnic, or religious tensions, or disrupt peace and security constitutes a punishable offense under the law.

The police urged citizens not to manipulate any event, statement, photo, or video to create rumors or misinformation, and advised against liking, sharing, or commenting on such content.

Producing, promoting, or endorsing unlawful content is also a criminal act.

He further called on users to verify the authenticity of online posts before sharing. “Creating a safe, responsible, and positive digital environment is a shared responsibility. Let’s all act as responsible citizens and contribute to maintaining peace and harmony in society,” the police statement said.