Nepal’s Media fraternity battles disinformation

Nepal’s media fraternity has expressed concerns regarding a surge in fake news directed at independent media outlets that have been uncovering corruption and governance failures. They say these fake news represent a deliberate and systematic campaign to undermine the credibility of independent press and misguide the general public. 

Such nefarious efforts extend beyond the media. They are also targeting the judiciary to undermine public trust in the judicial system.

Press Council Nepal has taken decisive action against sidhakura.com for disseminating fake news on April 26, 2024. The report accompanying an audio clip falsely implicated Capt. Rameshwar Thapa, chairman of Annapurna Media Network (AMN), and Kailash Sirohiya, managing director of Kantipur Media Group (KMG), Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, justice of the Supreme Court, several senior advocates and former justices, claiming they were part of a clandestine meeting purportedly aimed at dismissing over 400 corruption cases.

A video news report, including an audio clip, was uploaded by sidhakura.com, formerly part of a television program broadcast on the now-defunct Galaxy Television. The show was created by current Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, who faces the allegation of misappropriating funds from a Pokhara-based financial cooperative. 

Both AMN and KMG have been covering news reports regarding the plights of the people whose deposits were misused by cooperatives .

The Press Council has instructed sidhakura.com to immediately remove the fabricated news and to furnish a clarification. It said that the deliberate misinformation, masquerading as an 'exclusive' expose, has not only undermined the press integrity but also tarnished the Supreme Court’s reputation.  

Capt. Thapa has also taken legal recourse, denouncing the malicious intent behind the false allegations. He refuted the baseless claims, asserting that they aim to manipulate public opinion and serve vested interests. In a formal complaint filed with the Press Council, Thapa underscored the ethical boundaries breached by sidhakura.com and called for legal redress against such egregious misconduct.

“These are baseless and misleading rumours intended to manipulate the people and to serve some interest groups," Thapa said. "The questionable content published under the garb of ‘exclusive sting operation’ was created with extreme prejudice and filled with illusionary characters. It was a desperate act to go viral.” 

AMN management is currently in consultation with lawyers to seek legal remedies for the reputational damage caused by the fabricated news.

Sirohiya echoed these sentiments, demanding accountability for those fabricating and disseminating fake news. He urged the authorities to identify and prosecute the perpetrators, emphasizing the legal consequences of such malicious conduct. He also warned against the erosion of democratic institutions, underscoring the collective responsibility to uphold truth and integrity in media discourse.

“It will be too late if the authorities fail to identify and discourage these certain groups that are actively trying to weaken the pillars of democracy through disinformation campaigns,” Sirohiya said.

Supreme Court Justice Bhattarai has also expressed astonishment at being falsely implicated in the fabricated news. He unequivocally denied any involvement in the case, stressing his unwavering commitment to judicial integrity.

“The verdict of the case has already proved that I was not involved in the case,” he said in a statement on Friday. 

Nepa Media Society, representing private publications and broadcasters, has also demanded action against those involved in creating fake news with the malicious intent of defaming some established media houses and to assassinate the characters of their owners and a sitting Supreme Court justice.

Issuing a statement on Friday, Society Chairman Subha Shankar Kandel said their attention has been drawn by the latest incident of fake news that attempts to undermine credible media institutions and judicial authorities. He called upon law enforcement agencies to combat the dissemination of misinformation and uphold journalistic integrity.

“We strongly demand that the government take action against such propaganda mills masquerading as legitimate media entities and safeguard the foundations of democracy’” he said. 

Kandel also emphasized the urgent need to address the rampant misuse of social media and technology to spread rumors and falsehoods to undermine societal cohesion.