Pant warns against Nepal’s anti-misinformation measures

A prominent global advocate for media rights and Chairperson of Media Action Nepal, Laxman Datt Pant, has urged authorities to uphold independent journalism and critical voices in Nepal, emphasizing that dissent should not be stifled under the pretext of combating misinformation or disinformation.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Digital Rights Conference organized by the Digital Freedom Coalition in Kathmandu, Pant highlighted the need for respect for both online and offline criticism, urging the government to address governance shortcomings instead of silencing independent media or netizens.

Pant called on lawmakers to ensure that reforms in laws governing digital spaces and media are grounded in Nepal’s constitutional guarantees of fundamental rights and its commitments to international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

“Suppressing free expression in digital spaces without assessing actual harm contradicts the principles of a democratic state,” Pant remarked. He stressed the dual importance of producing factual information while respecting criticism aimed at enhancing governance and strengthening democratic checks and balances.

Pant further reminded that Nepal’s constitution prohibits pre-censorship of journalistic content, warning that any demands for journalists to take down news before publication violate fundamental rights. Pant's comments come amid growing concerns over increasing restrictions on digital space in Nepal.