Disinformation Risks Loom Over Elections, Study Finds

Bangladesh’s digital information landscape ahead of the upcoming national election is being increasingly compromised by disinformation campaigns that threaten electoral integrity and social cohesion, according to a new study released in Dhaka on Saturday.

The report, titled “Tackling election disinformation in Bangladesh: building collective responses for electoral integrity,” was conducted by Digitally Right, a Dhaka-based digital rights organization. The research was supported by The Asia Foundation under its governance program funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The study reveals a troubling deterioration in Bangladesh’s online information environment, which has become fragmented as various stakeholders engage in what researchers describe as a “digital contest” to shape public opinion. Political parties, religious groups, and foreign or diaspora-based influencers are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence, organized propaganda networks, and commercially-driven content to influence the public discourse.

Researchers found that disinformation has expanded beyond traditional political rivalries and is now actively eroding public trust, intensifying communal divisions, and silencing women’s voices in online spaces. Of particular concern is the deployment of fabricated videos, synthetic images, and doctored materials targeting women candidates and minority groups, creating an environment ripe for harassment, intimidation, and potential voter suppression as election day approaches.

Despite these growing threats, Bangladesh’s capacity to counter disinformation remains “alarmingly limited,” according to the study. The country has only 40-50 professional fact-checkers serving a population exceeding 170 million, and most mainstream media organizations have yet to establish dedicated verification desks. Both fact-checkers and journalists lack access to modern verification tools and coordinated response mechanisms.

The report further highlights that civil society organizations and election observers are largely absent from digital monitoring efforts. Social media platforms rarely engage meaningfully with national stakeholders, and the Election Commission lacks both the institutional framework and technical expertise necessary to address these emerging digital threats effectively.

“The gap between risk and capacity is dangerously wide now,” the report warns.

At the study’s release event, media professionals and digital rights experts called for stronger collaboration among regulators, media outlets, and technology companies to safeguard information integrity ahead of the polls.

Shawkat Hossain, head of online at Prothom Alo, Bangladesh’s leading newspaper, emphasized that traditional fact-checking approaches are no longer sufficient in the current digital landscape. He noted that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence are creating verification challenges that fact-checkers struggle to address effectively.

Professor Sumon Rahman, who heads media studies and journalism at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, emphasized the need for greater platform accountability. He argued that the government has compromised its negotiating power with social media companies due to past arbitrary regulatory actions.

Abdullah Titir, Digitally Right’s head of research, expressed concern about recently enacted regulations that appear designed with the election in mind but lack clear definitions or adequate safeguards. These regulatory gaps, Titir warned, could enable arbitrary implementation and suppress legitimate political discourse. She advocated for broader stakeholder consultation to ensure regulatory measures protect human rights while effectively addressing online falsehoods.

The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Ananya Raihan, chairperson of iSocial, Emma Wind, governance adviser at FCDO, Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, The Asia Foundation’s country representative, and Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Digitally Right.

As Bangladesh approaches its national election, the findings underscore an urgent need for coordinated action among government institutions, media organizations, and civil society to counter the growing threat of digital disinformation and ensure a free and fair electoral process.