AI-Generated Political Deepfake Sparks Disinformation Concerns in Nepal Ahead of Election
A fabricated AI video depicting Nepali politicians Balendra Shah, Kulman Ghising, and Rabi Lamichhane has gone viral, falsely suggesting a political alliance. The synthetic media emerged during a tense pre-election period marked by recent anti-corruption protests that toppled the previous government.
Digital forgeries targeting public figures have proliferated amid Nepal's political instability. Rastriya Swatantra Party vice president Swarnim Wagle reported a doctored audio clip falsely portraying discussions with India's prime minister to cyber police. Analysts warn such synthetic content risks exacerbating tensions ahead of the snap vote.