43 YouTube Channels in Nepal Under Investigation for Misinformation Due to Ineffectiveness of YouTube’s Review System

The use of YouTube channels to disseminate misinformation and disinformation is rapidly increasing in Nepal, largely due to YouTube’s ineffective review system in the country. In response, the Press Council of Nepal has been taking action since mid-July against channels spreading misleading content. The council has recommended that the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police investigate and take action against 43 YouTube channels accused of spreading false and harmful information.

According to the Press Council, these channels are transmitting one-sided, exaggerated, and even obscene content. Media outlets that continue to broadcast misleading material, especially those not registered as mass media, are being referred to the police for further legal action if they fail to comply with warnings.

A decision made by the council’s code of conduct monitoring subcommittee, chaired by Council Chairman Balkrishna Basnet, led to action being taken against various media, including social networks. In a press release issued on Monday, the council stated that, since August, they have intensified efforts against platforms that promote violence, terror, baseless rumors, and fearmongering through exaggerated headlines and thumbnails.

The council has been regularly monitoring and taking action regarding YouTube management, cataloging, and archiving, with this effort beginning in April. Ram Sharan Bohra, Co-Administrative Officer and Information Officer of the Press Council, confirmed these actions in a statement, which also outlined the council’s moves against various online media, including YouTube channels.

Since mid-July, the council has blacklisted three media outlets for failing to adhere to directives to follow the journalistic code of conduct.

Since mid-July 2024, the council has registered 76 complaints and taken action on 269 cases through self-monitoring efforts. Its goal is to bring greater organization and accountability to YouTube channels, ensuring they adhere to journalistic values. As complaints about content from YouTube channels continue to rise, the council has initiated regulatory procedures.

The council’s statement also noted that five online media outlets, which operate under media licenses but have broadcast content in violation of the code of conduct, have been instructed to remove their problematic content. Five additional outlets have been asked to provide explanations for their controversial material. Four unregistered web portals and social networks have been warned to remove certain content or face legal action.

The council has also sent a formal request to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, asking that web portals repeatedly violating the code of conduct be barred from transmitting content within Nepal.

Special monitoring has been placed on several online platforms on the watchlist for their controversial reporting. Detailed information on all media outlets facing actions has been made available on the council’s website.

The Press Council Nepal (PCN) is an autonomous and independent media regulatory body established by the Government of Nepal to oversee the development of press freedom in the country. It operates under the Ministry of Information and Communications and is currently led by Balkrishna Basnet.

The PCN has a long history, evolving from its predecessor, the Press Commission, which was created in 1957. Recently, the PCN released its annual Media Year Book 2024 on its 55th anniversary, highlighting the overall situation of the Nepali media sector. This English-language publication aims to address international interest in understanding Nepal’s media landscape and includes articles on various topics such as challenges and opportunities brought by new technology in journalism, freedom of expression, and the TikTok ban and its subsequent withdrawal.