Experts Discuss Digital Age Challenges at World Press Freedom Day Programme in Lalitpur, Hosted by TechPana and UNESCO

Kathmandu. Rapid technological advances have brought an unprecedented flow of information while raising serious challenges to press freedom, freedom of expression, mental health, and regulation. On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2026, TechPana, in collaboration with UNESCO, organized a programme at Hotel Himalaya in Lalitpur to explore solutions to the challenges of the digital age. 

The programme brought together politicians, journalists, legal experts, and AI experts to discuss issues ranging from online trolling and misinformation to the growing influence of AI and the evolving relationship between mainstream media and content creators.

A key focus of the discussion was the rising abuse faced by public figures in digital spaces and its impact on mental health. Member of Parliament and gender minority rights advocate Bhumika Shrestha shared her experience of facing abusive comments online, stressing the need for stronger regulatory frameworks. She also pointed to instances of intrusive questioning by the media, which she said often fuel online harassment. 

Nepali Congress youth leader Sachin Timalsina said that despite positive feedback during ground-level campaigns, he is often portrayed negatively on digital platforms. He raised concerns over the spread of misleading content and fake videos, saying anonymous accounts have made online abuse more frequent. “When hundreds of lies are circulated, they begin to appear as truth,” he said. 

Actress and politician Nisha Adhikari highlighted the psychological pressure faced by public figures, arguing that individuals in public should not be expected to endure any kind of abuse. “We are humans too; insults affect us as well,” she said.

AI and its legal and ethical implications also drew significant attention. Associate Professor at Nepal Law Campus Rukmani Maharjan warned that errors in AI generated translations could create serious legal confusion, citing examples. She stressed the need for mandatory human verification of AI outputs. 

Nepal Telecommunications Authority Deputy Director Pradeep Paudyal noted that AI systems often reflect bias due to insufficient training on Nepal’s linguistic and cultural diversity.  

AI researcher Dovan Rai cautioned against uncritical adoption of the technology, warning of potential risks of digital fascism to society. He said ethical AI governance is fundamentally a human responsibility rather than a legal issue. 

The programme also highlighted the shrinking distinction between mainstream media and independent content cerators in the digital age. AI engineer Aayush Shrestha said credibility remains the key strength of traditional media, emphasizing media, emphasizing the importance of ‘human in the loop’ verification to ensure accuracy.

However, Dipesh Tripathi, the director of The Nepali Comment, pointed to the challenge of misinformation spreading faster than it can be fact-check, noting the difficulty creators face in maintaining audience trust. 

Journalist Praju Pant of Ukeraa.com raised ethical concerns over content reuse, saying YouTube and TikTok creators often repurpose long-form investigative reporting without permission or attribution.

Former Chairman of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) Dharmendra Jha criticized both content creators and established media outlets for weak editorial accountability, noting that corrections are rarely published even after errors are identified. He stressed that audiences are now consumers of content, and all forms of media must prioritize accountability, transparency, and ethical responsibility regardless of whether content is produced by humans or AI. 

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: बैशाख २३, २०८३ १२:३८

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