Nepal Police’s ‘Digital Policing’ Goes Viral, Sparks Debate Over Awareness, Privacy, and Ethics

 

Kathmandu. Nepal Police’s increasingly social media–driven approach to enforcing road discipline has sparked public debate, drawing praise for its creative awareness style while also raising concerns over privacy and ethical boundaries.

In recent days, the police have moved beyond traditional press releases and notices, instead using memes, trending audio, and edited videos circulating on social media to communicate road safety messages, particularly targeting young audiences.

After apprehending traffic offenders involved in stunts, reckless riding, and noise pollution, police have been releasing videos showing individuals admitting their mistakes and urging others not to repeat such behavior.

Among the widely circulated incidents was a rider captured sleeping while riding a motorcycle without holding the handlebars in Kathmandu. Another case involved Rajanish Shrestha from Chitwan, who was seen performing reckless stunts and creating loud noise while riding a Bullet motorcycle.

Following the viral circulation of a video showing a motorcycle with registration number Bagmati Province 02-023 P 2884, police took the rider into custody from Kalimati. In a statement recorded after the action, the rider admitted wrongdoing, saying, “The act I committed is a violation of traffic rules, and it also poses a danger to my own life and the safety of others. I will not do such an act in the future, and I request others not to do it either.”

Similarly, Rajanish Shrestha from Chitwan also stated in a video, “Someone recorded the stunt I did and uploaded it. The police brought me to the office and advised me. What I want to tell everyone is, no one should do such stunts.”

Controversial vlogger Raj Kumar Tamang was arrested for alleged noise pollution and violation of road rules. According to police, Tamang was arrested after videos were obtained from social media and traced through CCTV footage. In his statement, Tamang said, “I made a mistake. I am a victim of my mischief. It was captured by a CCTV camera. I will not do it again in the future. Sorry to everyone.”

Police have also been incorporating trending meme sounds and edited clips into awareness videos, including popular audio such as “Can We Skip to the Good Part.” These posts often include messages like “Use your brain, not bravery, on the road,” and have received mixed but significant public engagement online.

Kathmandu District Police Office spokesperson Superintendent of Police Pawan Kumar Bhattarai said the strategy is designed to better connect with younger audiences.

“The younger generation is active on social media; they engage when videos are posted in a style that appeals to them. And, they become aware as well,” Bhattarai said, adding that internal surveys and behavioral analysis of youth preferences guide content production.

Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office spokesperson Superintendent of Police Nareshraj Subedi said the police also rely on inputs from the official ‘Hello Sarkar’ app, email reports, and a dedicated social media monitoring team.

“Even on the police’s official app, videos showing traffic violations and breaches of road discipline come in. Using these various videos as a basis, we determine what posting spreads awareness and then edit and post the videos,” Subedi said, adding that different police units produce and edit content in their own style.

Nepal Police central spokesperson DIG Abi Narayan Kafle said the force is focusing on “pre-emptive policing” aimed at preventing crimes before they occur.

“We are currently using technology to understand changing circumstances and youth psychology. The police have expert personnel, AI support, and a social media monitoring desk,” Kafle said. “We are working proactively to keep society safe and prevent youth from going astray. It is not just the police; it is everyone’s responsibility.”

However, the approach has also raised concerns among cybersecurity experts over privacy and digital ethics.

Experts argue that some police-released videos may violate individuals’ personal privacy, as license plate numbers, identity details, and other sensitive information are often visible.

Section 25 of the Personal Privacy Act, 2075, provides safeguards against unauthorized disclosure or publication of personal data collected by public bodies. In several police videos, such details appear clearly visible.

In one earlier case, a video warning about phishing links faced criticism after it was observed that a user’s Facebook confirmation code and number were not blurred, raising cybersecurity concerns.

Similarly, the Ilam District Police Office faced backlash after posting a video on gambling, where individuals were categorized as “people without ears,” “people without noses,” and “people without brains,” with gamblers placed in the last category. The video was criticized for being derogatory and insensitive.

Cybersecurity experts warn that while Nepal Police’s digital outreach is improving awareness and enforcement, insufficient attention to privacy protection and ethical communication could pose risks to individuals’ digital security and public trust.

As “digital policing” expands, the debate continues over how to balance effective online awareness campaigns with respect for privacy, dignity, and responsible content practices.

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