In the absence of truth, misinformation becomes harmful: Nepal’s experience shows why fact-checking matters in crises
Recent demonstrations spiraled into violence after social media falsehoods spread like wildfire
This commentary was published in commemoration of International Fact-Checking Day, held April 2 each year to recognize the work of fact-checkers worldwide.
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On the evening of Sept. 8, 2025, Nepal was shell-shocked. What started as peaceful Gen Z demonstrations against corruption rapidly turned into a killing field, with police guarding the parliament building firing indiscriminately on demonstrators for hours.
Citizens of this Hindu-majority nation tried to make sense of the 19 deaths shared widely via raw video. They were emotional, confused and helpless when another video started going viral. This one showed people trying to gatecrash Pashupatinath Temple, the most revered Hindu temple in the capital, Kathmandu, and the accompanying message indicated that they were trying to burn it down. It spread like wildfire, with many social media users calling for action to protect the temple.
Related Knowledge Center: Fact-checking and its detractors
Fact-checking has become a familiar tool for political reporters to hold office-holders and candidates accountable. But critics ask if fact-checkers sometimes miss the forest for the trees, and if the practice often struggles with false equivalency the way conventional political coverage does.