Bangladesh Grapples with Surge in Disinformation on Social Media
Dhaka – Since the Awami League government’s fall in August, Bangladesh has been battling a rising tide of disinformation, particularly on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). A new report by Tech Global Institute (TGI), an independent tech policy nonprofit, reveals the extent of this problem, highlighting how narratives aligning with Indian right-wing ideologies are being disseminated to audiences both within and outside India. The report, titled "The Anatomy of Disinformation on X," analyzes 100 social media posts sampled from a larger dataset of 1000 posts related to specific hashtags, topics, and user activity between July 26 and November 26, 2023.
TGI’s analysis reveals X as the primary platform for disinformation, hosting 77% of the analyzed posts, followed by Facebook and YouTube. Worryingly, 71% of these posts were also shared through private messaging services like Messenger and WhatsApp, amplifying their reach and making them harder to track and counter. The spread of disinformation saw a significant spike in November, coinciding with a 214% increase in new X accounts linked to disseminating false narratives about Bangladesh. This surge suggests a coordinated effort to manipulate public perception and potentially destabilize the country.
The dominant narrative within the disinformation campaign focuses on the alleged "plight" of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. 27% of the analyzed posts featured claims of "mass violence and killings," while 21% distorted local incidents to create false communal narratives. Other prominent themes included alleged discrimination and assault based on religion, vandalism of Hindu properties, and unfounded claims about territorial annexation. The report also identified disinformation targeting prominent figures like Professor Muhammad Yunus and the interim government, linking them to terrorist groups without evidence.
TGI’s analysis strongly suggests that these disinformation campaigns originate from India or are closely aligned with Indian ultranationalist groups. Several indicators point to this connection, including the use of narratives consistent with Indian right-wing ideologies, references to Indian right-wing media outlets, use of Hindi language, frequent tagging of Indian political figures, coordinated engagement efforts to amplify posts, and a general focus on Indian ultranationalist politics. This coordinated effort to spread disinformation across borders raises serious concerns about potential interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.
The report identifies several tactics employed in these disinformation campaigns. One common strategy involves distorting facts about local events and adding a communal spin to inflame tensions. For example, a video of a mentally ill man causing a disturbance was misrepresented as evidence of "violent Islamism" and the "Talibanization" of Bangladesh. Other tactics include exaggerating claims of violence, discrediting the interim government, and fabricating grassroots support for false narratives through fake accounts. These coordinated efforts highlight the sophistication and deliberate nature of the disinformation campaign.
The spread of disinformation isn’t limited to social media; it has also infiltrated mainstream media outlets, both within Bangladesh and internationally. False claims are often broadcast widely before being debunked by independent fact-checkers, demonstrating the challenge of containing the spread of misinformation. An example cited in the report involves the false claim that a lawyer who died during a clash was connected to a religious leader’s legal case, a narrative amplified by Indian media outlets. This incident highlights the ease with which disinformation can cross borders and gain traction in established media channels.
While TGI acknowledges that the scale of disinformation targeting Bangladesh hasn’t yet reached the levels of campaigns orchestrated by state actors like China, Iran, Russia, or India, the report emphasizes the need for increased attention to the underlying national security and foreign policy issues that contribute to these threats. Apon Das, a research associate at TGI and co-author of the report, stresses the importance of expanding fact-checking efforts beyond local networks and focusing on foreign sources spreading disinformation about Bangladesh. He calls for more research in this area to understand the dynamics and motivations behind these campaigns and develop effective countermeasures. Das points out that disinformation often thrives in the information gaps left by traditional media, highlighting the need for timely and accurate reporting to prevent the spread of false narratives. The report calls for a more comprehensive approach to tackling disinformation, involving increased research, collaboration with international fact-checking organizations, and addressing the underlying geopolitical factors that contribute to the problem.