Held under the global theme “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security,” the dialogue brought together policymakers, politicians, media professionals, content creators, legal experts, academics, civil society representatives and technology experts to discuss the growing influence of digital platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) on public information.
On the occasion, Jaco du Toit, UNESCO Representative to Nepal, emphasized that press freedom today must be understood within a broader information ecosystem shaped by digital technologies.
Information today is generated across platforms, amplified through algorithms, and increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Ensuring its integrity requires strengthening the systems, capacities and safeguards that protect trust in information.
Jaco du ToitUNESCO Representative to Nepal
During the open discussion, participants highlighted the increasing prevalence of mis and disinformation, online harassment, and the growing influence of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, on public discourse. The discussion underscored how AI driven content amplification, manipulated media, and automated abuse can exacerbate online harm and distort information ecosystems.
Hon. Bhumika Shrestha, Member of Parliament and gender minority rights advocate, shared her experience of facing abusive comments online and called for stronger safeguards and regulatory frameworks to address digital harm.
Mr. Pradeep Paudyal, Deputy Director at the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, noted that AI systems may reflect bias when they are not adequately trained on Nepal’s linguistic and cultural diversity. Participants discussed the importance of transparency, human oversight, and context-sensitive approaches in the use of AI, particularly in content verification and public communication.
The consultation further explored the evolving relationship between mainstream media and content creators, highlighting concerns around attribution, editorial responsibility, and the rapid spread of misleading content. Dharmendra Jha, former Chairman of Rastriya Samachar Samiti, stressed the importance of accountability across all forms of media.
“All forms of media must prioritize accountability, transparency and ethical responsibility, regardless of whether content is produced by humans or supported by AI,” he noted.
The dialogue forms part of an initiative supported by UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), aimed at strengthening ethical digital practices and information integrity in Nepal. It reaffirmed the importance of coordinated efforts to safeguard press freedom, promote media and information literacy, and uphold information as a public good in the digital age.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/world-press-freedom-day-2026-strengthening-press-freedom-and-information-integrity-nepals?hub=701
