Fake Leaders, Real Fear: AI Deepfakes Target Nepal Election

A video showing three of Nepal’s top political figures walking together spread quickly online last year. It sparked rumors of a major new alliance before national elections. The meeting never happened. The clip was a digital forgery, known as a "deepfake," created using artificial intelligence (AI). It falsely showed Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Rabi Lamichhane, former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, and ex-power sector chief Kulman Ghising. This video is part of a growing wave of AI-generated fakes in Nepal. Experts warn these deepfakes threaten to mislead voters and distort democratic debate. The technology can make it appear a person said or did something they never did. The incident has raised serious concerns about misinformation during elections. Without clear labels, voters may struggle to tell real news from AI fiction. Political analysts call for urgent public awareness campaigns. They say teaching media literacy is now a critical part of defending democracy.