Disinformation in Nepal: Example case studies; Types of misinformation campaigns; Challenges of mapping misinformation; Learnings from mapping misinformation in Nepal

1. DISINFORMATION
ECOSYSTEM IN
NEPAL
Presented at the 1st Consultative Meeting, Male, the Maldives, July 29, 202
Ujjwal Acharya, Research Fellow, Center for Media Research - Nepal

2. 97.8% SOCIAL MEDIA USERS
THINK MISINFORMATION IS
ALREADY OR WILL BE A
PROBLEM TO OUR POLITICS
AND SOCIETY.
91% of Nepal's social media users said they saw misinformation online in last seven days.
Nepal Social Media Users Survey 2021. n=403

3. AGENDA
1. My introduction
2. Example case studies
3. Types of misinformation
campaigns
4. Challenges of mapping
misinformation
5. Learnings from mapping
misinformation in Nepal
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4. MY INTRODUCTION
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5. EXAMPLE CASE
STUDIES
Six case studies of misinformation in Nepal

6. MCC COMPACT
Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact is
USA's $500 million grant to Nepal that needed
parliamentary approval. Contested and debated issue,
mass protests in February until it was ratified.
China Radio International (CRI) Nepali service's
Facebook page (2.7 million likes) published 6
opinionated and one-sided videos in a week when it
was at parliament.
An influence operation.
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7. ABCDE ANALYSIS
Actor: Foreign Media
Behavior: Transparent, aspersive intent
Content: Video in Nepali, inflammatory messages
Degree: Targeted to Nepali citizens
Effect: Fueled divided public opinion that saw
violent protests
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8. CORONA-VIRAL
During early days of Covid Pandemic, there were many
videos about it that went viral. Four videos in this
case studies are from YouTube channels, national tv
and regional tv. They all contain multiple
misinformation ranging from outright false claims
prove points by irrelevant experts.
Misinformation.
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9. ABCDE ANALYSIS
Actor: YouTube Channels, televisions stations
Behavior: Transparent, non-aspersive intent
Content: Video in Nepali, outright lies and false
claims and suggestions
Degree: Targeted to Nepali citizens
Effect: Misguided public encouraging them to change
habits or underestimate dangers of Covid
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10. CHINA BORDER
In 2020, when Nepal-India relationship was at worse
due to border dispute (Lipulekh), top newspaper
Kantipur published a front page report with title:
China also encroached border in 7 districts. The
report was based on the non-existent report by
Ministry of Agriculture.
Misinformation.
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11. ABCDE ANALYSIS
Actor: National newspaper
Behavior: Transparent, non-aspersive intent
Content: Text in Nepali, unverified content and
misinformation mixed with valid data/context
Degree: Targeted to Nepali citizens
Effect: Impact on public opinion about China at the
time when Nepal's relationship with neighbors were
hotly debated.
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12. COVID MASTERMIND
On April 10, 2020, Indian television channels 'broke'
a news that a Nepali citizen was mastermind behind
attempt to spread covid in India, buy sending 200
covid infected people across open border as directed
by ISI Pakistan. For four days, various news about
him was broadcast based on unverified facts using
inflammatory language establishing him as a criminal.
Disinformation.
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13. ABCDE ANALYSIS
Actor: Foreign Media (TV9 Bharatvarsh & TV24)
Behavior: Transparent, aspersive intent
Content: Video in Hindi, inflammatory accusations
Degree: Targeted to Indian and Nepali citizens
Effect: Social / political / psychological cost for
Jalim Miya, waste of public funds
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14. MCC COMPACT
On January 23, 2021, ekantipur.com - one of Nepal's
largest online media with Kantipur's masthead,
published a news with title: "We are digging files
collecting dusts in CIAA: Foreign Minister Gyawali".
His quotes to fabricated adding a couple of words
that made the whole meaning different at the time
when Nepal's politics were very divided and no one
knew what's going to happen.
Misinformation.
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15. ABCDE ANALYSIS
Actor: National online media
Behavior: Transparent, non-aspersive intent
Content: Text in Nepali, outrageous statement
Degree: Targeted to Nepali citizens
Effect: Fueled anger against minister, fueled hotly
debated political issue
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16. COVID WOMEN
On April 16, 2020, many media carried news
saying that police was searching for two Muslim
women who threw banknotes on the street of
Janakpur in suspicion of trying spread
coronavirus through spitted bills.
Police arrested both, put them in custody in
quarantine facility before releasing them on
April 19 after both were tested negative.
Misinformation.
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17. ABCDE ANALYSIS
Actor: Police, news agency, news portals
Behavior: Transparent, non-aspersive intent
Content: Text and photo in Nepali, messages huring
religious sentiments
Degree: Targeted to Nepali citizens
Effect: Fueled hatred to Muslim population, created
fear among Janakpur locals and waste of public
funds
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18. TRENDS
Misinformation trends in Nepal

19. WHAT IS SEEN?
1. Foreign actors: Indian and Chinese media trying to
create space, and influence operation
2. Misinformation: Unintentional and public service motive
yet lacks professional procedures
3. Disinformation: Giving space to un-relevant experts and
false claims for attracting audience, for viewership and
money
4. Political disinformation: During elections to promote a
party, demote opposition
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20. CHALLENGES OF
MAPPING
MISINFORMATION
Why misinformation mapping is difficult in Nepal?

21. WHY SO HARD?
1. Many tools by social media platforms and others NOT
available for Nepal.
2. No coordinated effort against misinformation (some
sporadic non-systemic efforts).
3. Lack of systemic monitoring by CSOs, state or media
means non-avaibility of primary data / resources.
4. Lack of resources and skills.
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22. LEARNINGS FROM
MAPPING
MISINFORMATION
What we have learned from mapping misinformation in Nepal?

23. ICEBERG
1. What we have seen or thought was just a tip of iceberg.
The misinformation problem is already massive and there are
coordinated campaigns and unseen actors.
2. The first step to fight misinformation: Systemic
monitoring is urgently needed.
3. In-depth research is needed to understand misinformation
and its impact in Nepal's society and politics.
4. Somehow misinformation seems to be on the way to create
big problem yet still at the stage it could be tackled.
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24. THANK
YOU!
cmrnepal@butmedia.org
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