Recent investigations by the Financial Times revealed that pro-government news outlets and influencers in Bangladesh are using low-cost Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to create deep fake videos and spread disinformation. These videos were aimed at discrediting the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the U.S., which has been advocating for free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
After the publication of the FT report, the controversial videos were either inaccessible or removed. This was not surprising to close observers of Bangladeshi affairs, as there have been previous reports implicating the Bangladesh government and ruling Awami League (AL) members in promoting disinformation against opposition leaders and government critics.
In December 2018, Facebook took down nine pages and six accounts involved in coordinated inauthentic behavior against the opposition in Bangladesh. These pages posed as credible news outlets, posting pro-government and anti-opposition content. Facebook’s investigation linked these accounts to individuals associated with the Bangladesh government.
In September 2023, Agence France-Press uncovered a campaign of op-eds by fake experts praising the Bangladesh government’s policies. These articles endorsed narratives pushed by the government and were published in multiple domestic and international news sites.
Qadaruddin Shishir, AFP’s fact-check editor, noted that the government and ruling party dominate political disinformation in Bangladesh, spending significant amounts on promoting disinformation on social media platforms.
Despite the dominance of the government in promoting disinformation, opposition-affiliated groups are also engaged in spreading false information. The reasons behind the government’s promotion of political disinformation remain unclear, especially when public opinion seems not to matter to the ruling party.
With the general elections scheduled for January 7, 2024, concerns arise about the lack of free speech and free media in Bangladesh. The country’s rankings in press freedom put it in a grim light, and its Digital Security Act has been used to arrest and jail individuals criticizing the government on social media.
The spread of disinformation in Bangladesh is attributed to various factors, including the promotion of polarization on an industrial scale, financial gain for individuals, and geopolitical motives. The use of AI and deep fakes in disinformation campaigns is expected to increase, signifying the need for tech companies like Facebook to combat disinformation more effectively.