Nepal Police Issues Strict AI Warning that using artificial intelligence to create fake images of police uniforms, logos, and rank insignia is a serious criminal offence. The warning was announced through official Nepal Police social media channels in late April and May 2026, urging every citizen to immediately stop producing and sharing AI-altered content that misuses official police symbols.
Police spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed the warning publicly and stated that the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau and its newly formed AI and Advanced Analytics Cell, launched in November 2025, are already using specialized software to detect and flag manipulated posts across social media platforms. He made clear that Nepal Police Issues Strict AI enforcement measures and that anyone found transmitting such content will face legal action under Nepal’s Electronic Transactions Act of 2006, which criminalizes the broadcasting of false or fabricated information through electronic means. Impersonating police officers or using official emblems without proper authorization is also punishable under Nepal’s National Penal Code of 2017.
The decision by Nepal Police to Issue Strict AI rules comes at a time when AI-driven disinformation is rising sharply across the country, particularly during the 2026 election period. More than 600 disinformation cases were reported to authorities, with around 150 handled directly by police. In March 2026, 35 people were arrested nationwide for misusing social media and AI tools to spread false information ahead of the elections. In one specific case, Kathmandu District Police warned the public in February 2026 not to share AI-manipulated photos and videos that had gone viral following a local traffic incident, clearly stating that the images being shared were wrong and deliberately misleading.
Fact-checkers in Nepal have also confirmed that some photos of large public gatherings circulating widely online were entirely generated by AI tools and had no connection to any real event. International media, including AFP, reported that AI-generated disinformation was flooding Nepali election campaigns through deepfake videos and doctored images specifically targeting political figures and public institutions.
In response to the situation in which Nepal Police issued strict AI guidelines for the entire public, authorities are strongly urging all citizens to verify any police-related image or news through official Nepal Police channels before sharing it online, and to report any suspicious content directly to the Cyber Bureau without delay.
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