Kathmandu: Days after massive flash floods in Nepal led to over 1,000 people losing their lives and thousands still missing, Nepal is also facing another
crisis as several fake images, Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated images and videos have circulated on social media on the disaster.
The authorities have started taking action against users found sharing fake information on social media. They have also asked 72 social media accounts to remove this kind of content. Notably, Nepal Press Council too launched a digital complaint mechanism under the title, ‘Special Complaints on the Bhotekoshi Incident’. The process will allow people to share content showing fake information on the tragedy, The Kathmandu Post said in its report.
Till Saturday evening, the council received as many as101 complaints. Among them were 67 personal accounts. Complaints have also been filed against some news media outlets. “Complaints have been lodged against some online news portals and their social media pages,” Shrestha said as per Money Control. He, however, said that news organisations mostly avoided circulating fake information.
Notably, one of the videos showed Nepal Home Minister Sudan Gurung inside a tunnel. He was shown helping with rescue operations. The video was found to originate from India’s Uttarakhand. The footage was posted by the Fire Service Uttarakhand Police originally on August 14.
1,003 bodies recovered so far
Meanwhile, 321 bodies were recovered in Chitwan district of Nepal. This was followed by 216 in Nawalparasi East, 95 in Nuwakot, 170 in Nawalparasi West, 57 in Dhading, 65 in Gorkha. On Tuesday, the Nepalese Government issued a fresh on risk of floods in several districts in the country. It also urged people living near rivers to stay vigilant and take precautionary steps. The government said that flash floods may occur in districts like Nuwakot and Rasuwa. In these two districts, water flow in rivers may increase, it added further.
