Worrying Absence of Efforts to Contain Disinformation

Electoral authorities are facing mounting criticism for their ineffective response to a wave of sophisticated disinformation campaigns threatening Bangladesh’s February 12 national elections and referendum. Over the past week, fabricated news reports, AI-generated images, and deepfake videos have circulated widely across social media platforms, significantly deteriorating the campaign environment and inflaming political tensions.

Recent incidents highlight the dangerous potential of unchecked digital manipulation. False reports of a Juba Dal leader’s death and a deepfake video targeting a BNP candidate in Dhaka 8 constituency represent deliberate attempts to provoke outrage and potentially incite violence, according to electoral observers. These tactics violate the electoral code of conduct, which explicitly prohibits such activities, yet enforcement mechanisms have proven largely ineffective.

“There is almost no effective control mechanism or visible enforcement of the code of conduct,” said one political analyst who has been monitoring the elections. “The authorities claim to have established monitoring cells and hotlines, but concrete action remains conspicuously absent.”

The problem extends beyond mere negligence to fundamental capacity issues. Regulatory agencies have acknowledged significant difficulties in keeping pace with the rapid spread of online disinformation. The current complaint mechanism relies heavily on email submissions, creating a processing delay that renders interventions largely ineffective, as false content typically achieves viral status within minutes.

In a particularly troubling admission, the National Cyber Security Agency has conceded that it lacks sufficient investigative capacity to address the problem effectively. This institutional weakness comes at a critical time when digital manipulation techniques are becoming increasingly sophisticated and accessible worldwide.

Coordination failures between the Election Commission, telecommunications regulators, and law enforcement agencies have further complicated response efforts. The absence of local offices for major social media platforms creates additional barriers to prompt content moderation or removal.

Women candidates face particularly severe challenges in this environment. Reports indicate they are disproportionately targeted by cyber-bullying campaigns and gender-specific misinformation, often with minimal institutional support or protection.

“When candidates across the political spectrum allege that no meaningful action has been taken against violations, public confidence in both regulators and the electoral process inevitably erodes,” noted a representative from a local election monitoring organization.

The situation threatens to normalize digital manipulation as a standard campaign tactic in Bangladesh, potentially setting a dangerous precedent for future elections. Political observers warn that without immediate intervention, public trust in electoral institutions may suffer lasting damage.

Experts emphasize that addressing this crisis requires more than incremental measures or verbal assurances. They recommend the immediate formation of rapid response teams staffed with technical specialists who can quickly identify and counter false information. Additionally, authorities need to demonstrate that violations will carry meaningful consequences, establishing deterrence through consistent enforcement.

The responsibility extends beyond government institutions. Political parties, candidates, journalists, and citizens all have crucial roles to play in combating the spread of disinformation by verifying information before sharing and reporting suspicious content to appropriate authorities.

As Bangladesh approaches this critical electoral moment, the unaddressed proliferation of AI-generated disinformation represents not just an immediate threat to electoral integrity, but potentially a longer-term challenge to democratic discourse in the digital age.