Exploring Digital Authoritarianism and The Chinese Model in Nepal

Principle Investigator：Dolma Tsering

Digital authoritarianism, in the simplest terms, is defined as the use of digital information and technology by those in power to control and manipulate domestic and foreign populations to serve their interests. This encompasses state-sponsored surveillance, regulation of information, social control, cyber sovereignty, and the exportation of surveillance technologies. China has become a prominent figure at the forefront of this phenomenon, having pioneered censorship in the digital age and developed unprecedented high-tech repression in regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang. China's influence in digital authoritarianism extends beyond its borders, with evidence of similar systems being exported to at least 18 countries, predominantly in Africa and Asia.

This study employs a qualitative analysis of policy documents, bilateral agreements, and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders to investigate China's increasing influence on Nepal's digital infrastructure and governance. It examines how Beijing exports its model of digital authoritarianism to Nepal through technological cooperation, infrastructure development, and capacity-building initiatives. The research focuses on three primary mechanisms: strategic infrastructure development via state-backed technology firms such as ZTE and Huawei; the transfer of surveillance capabilities and control techniques, including the installation of CCTV cameras and the prohibition of negative reports related to China and the Belt and Road Initiative; and the promotion of Chinese cyber governance norms in Nepal. This research contributes to the expanding body of literature on digital authoritarianism by demonstrating how technological dependencies and capacity development programmes can facilitate the transfer of authoritarian digital practices to emerging democracies. Consequently, this transfer can have a profound impact on democracy and the protection of human rights.