Dhaka: Rumor Scanner, a fact-checking organisation based in Bangladesh, reported the identification of 296 cases of misinformation circulating on the internet in April. This reflects a slight decrease from the 298 instances recorded in March.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rumor Scanner’s detailed analysis revealed that national issues were the most common subject of misinformation, accounting for 101 cases or 34% of the total. Political matters followed closely with 95 instances, while international and religious topics were involved in 38 and 27 cases, respectively. Other categories included entertainment and literary (8 cases), education-related (7 cases), fraud-related (10 cases), and sports-related misinformation (9 cases).
The majority of misinformation identified by Rumor Scanner was text-based, with 138 cases. Videos and images were also significant sources, with 105 and 53 cases respectively. Misinformation was classified into various categories: 180 instances were deemed false, 66 misleading, and 48 distorted. Interestingly, two sarcastic or humorous posts were fact-checked due to their widespread sharing as factual information.
Social media platforms were significant contributors to misinformation, with Facebook leading at 276 instances, followed by YouTube (54 cases), Instagram (48 cases), X (formerly Twitter) (44 cases), TikTok (24 cases), and Threads (13 cases). Additionally, Rumor Scanner identified misinformation published by national media outlets in 14 different incidents.
The report highlighted an ongoing trend of misinformation about Bangladesh propagated by Indian media outlets and social media accounts. In April, two such instances were reported in Indian media, and two more were identified from Indian social media accounts.
Communal issues were also targeted, with 16 misinformation cases identified. Notably, 12 of these aimed at the current interim government of Bangladesh. These claims were predominantly negative, with 83% portraying the government unfavorably. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, was a frequent target, with 29 instances of misinformation, most of which were negative.
Other political figures and parties were not exempt from misinformation. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) faced 13 negative disinformation cases, with key figures like Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman affected. Similarly, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates were targeted in several negative cases.
Conversely, the Bangladesh Awami League experienced some favorable misinformation, with 75% of the eight identified cases portraying the party positively. President Sheikh Hasina was mentioned in six cases, mostly positive.
The newly established National Citizen Party (NCP) encountered three negative misinformation instances, affecting its leaders including Convener Nahid Islam.
State security forces, including the Bangladesh Army and Police, were also subjects of misinformation, with 16 and nine instances identified, respectively. The use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology was noted in 19 fake content cases and three deepfake videos.
April saw a surge in global protests related to the genocide in Gaza, with Rumor Scanner identifying 38 misinformation cases tied to these events. Additionally, misinformation about an attack on tourists in Kashmir and a Sunni congregation in Dhaka was reported.
Misinformation involving domestic and foreign news outlets was prevalent, with 62 instances using fake media names and logos. Jamuna TV was the most misused outlet in misinformation spreading, followed by Prothom Alo and Janakantha.