Bangladesh Grapples with Surge in Online Misinformation: Rumor Scanner’s April Report Reveals Alarming Trends
DHAKA – Bangladesh witnessed a deluge of online misinformation in April 2025, with 296 instances identified by Rumor Scanner, a leading fact-checking organization. This figure closely mirrors the 298 cases detected in March, indicating a persistent challenge in combating the spread of false and misleading information. The misinformation spanned a wide range of topics, from national and political issues to international affairs, religion, entertainment, education, fraud, and sports. This sustained level of misinformation underscores the need for continued vigilance and enhanced efforts to counter its pervasive influence.
National issues dominated the misinformation landscape, accounting for 34% of the total cases, followed closely by political misinformation. The pervasiveness of misinformation related to national matters highlights its potential to impact public discourse and policy decisions. The significant presence of political misinformation underscores the vulnerability of the democratic process to manipulation and distortion. This convergence of misinformation on crucial national and political matters poses a significant threat to informed public discourse and effective governance.
The digital platforms most frequently exploited for spreading misinformation were Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Threads, reflecting the widespread use of social media in Bangladesh. Text-based misinformation was most prevalent, followed by videos and images. The dominance of Facebook as a conduit for misinformation reinforces the urgent need for stricter content moderation policies and enhanced user education on the platform. The increasing use of multimedia formats like videos and images for spreading misinformation presents a further challenge, requiring advanced detection and debunking techniques.
Rumor Scanner categorized the identified misinformation into three primary categories: false, misleading, and distorted. This classification allows for a nuanced understanding of the varying degrees of manipulation employed in spreading misinformation. The presence of even sarcastic or humorous posts shared as factual information necessitates further investigation into the motivations and impact of such deceptive practices. The prevalence of "false" claims signifies deliberate attempts to mislead, while "misleading" and "distorted" content often utilize subtle manipulation to achieve similar ends.
The report highlights the increasing trend of Indian media outlets and social media accounts spreading misinformation about Bangladesh. This cross-border propagation of misinformation raises concerns about regional stability and necessitates collaborative efforts between the two countries to address the issue. The recurring nature of this trend necessitates proactive measures, including diplomatic initiatives, to mitigate the potential for escalating tensions and fostering mistrust between the two nations.
A worrying trend revealed by Rumor Scanner is the targeting of key figures in the interim government, notably Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser. The negative portrayal of these individuals in the majority of misinformation cases suggests deliberate attempts to undermine public trust in the government. This targeted disinformation campaign against prominent government figures raises concerns about potential interference in the country’s political stability and democratic transition. The disproportionately negative portrayal of these figures calls for further investigation into the sources and motives behind these campaigns.
Political parties and figures were also subject to significant misinformation campaigns. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) faced the brunt of these attacks, with all instances portraying the party negatively. Other parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the Awami League, and the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), were also targeted. These pervasive disinformation campaigns against political parties underscore the vulnerability of the political landscape to manipulation and the potential for these campaigns to influence public opinion and electoral outcomes. The disproportionately negative targeting of certain parties warrants further investigation into the motivations and potential implications for fair political competition.
State security forces, including the Bangladesh Army and Police, were also victims of misinformation. The targeting of these institutions raises concerns about attempts to erode public trust and potentially destabilize the country’s security apparatus. The dissemination of false information about security forces has the potential to create unrest and undermine their authority, necessitating prompt and effective countermeasures to protect public trust and maintain order.
The report also identified the growing use of artificial intelligence in creating fake content and deepfake videos. This technological advancement in misinformation tactics presents new challenges for fact-checkers and necessitates the development of more sophisticated detection methods. The increasing sophistication of AI-generated misinformation underscores the need for continuous innovation in detection technologies and media literacy initiatives to equip citizens with the skills to discern authentic information from fabricated content.
The ongoing genocide in Gaza, Palestine, and the related protests also became a breeding ground for misinformation. The spread of false information surrounding such sensitive events can further exacerbate tensions and hinder humanitarian efforts. The exploitation of such tragic events for spreading disinformation underscores the need for increased vigilance and proactive measures to counter misinformation narratives and promote accurate reporting.
The misuse of mainstream media outlets’ names, logos, and headlines to spread misinformation poses a serious threat to media credibility. The frequent impersonation of reputable news organizations undermines public trust in journalism and necessitates strengthened measures to protect media integrity and hold perpetrators accountable. The widespread nature of this tactic calls for collaborative efforts between media organizations, tech platforms, and law enforcement agencies to combat the spread of counterfeit news content and protect the integrity of journalistic institutions.
The findings of Rumor Scanner’s April report paint a concerning picture of the misinformation landscape in Bangladesh. The persistent high volume of misinformation, targeting of key figures and institutions, and the increasing use of advanced technologies like AI highlight the evolving nature of the challenge and necessitate a multi-pronged approach to combat it. This comprehensive approach should involve strengthening fact-checking initiatives, enhancing media literacy among citizens, promoting responsible technology use, and fostering collaboration between government, media organizations, and civil society to tackle this pervasive issue effectively.
