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Misinformation Surges on Social Media as Bangladesh’s Election Approaches
Social media platforms across Bangladesh have seen a significant increase in misleading content as the national election draws near, with fact-checking organizations working to combat the spread of false information that could influence voters.
Rumor Scanner Bangladesh and Dismislab published two election-related fact-check reports yesterday, highlighting how outdated videos and fabricated media content are being circulated with deceptive claims.
One particularly troubling case involves a video shared widely on TikTok with the title “President appeals to the nation over the election.” The clip purportedly shows President Mohammed Shahabuddin addressing citizens about the upcoming national election, urging them to “exercise your voting rights yourselves and form a government of your choice.”
This video gained substantial traction online, accumulating 26,000 views, 900 reactions, and 100 shares on TikTok alone, according to Rumor Scanner’s analysis.
However, fact-checkers discovered the video is actually from February 2023, when President Shahabuddin was speaking about the previous 12th parliamentary election held on January 7, 2024 – not the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election.
During their verification process, fact-checkers located the original source: a video titled “Let the upcoming election be fair: Mohammed Shahabuddin” published on ATN News’ YouTube channel on February 13, 2023. The circulated clip matched this earlier footage, and DBC News had also published the same material on that date.
In a separate incident, Dismislab identified a fabricated graphic circulating on Facebook that mimicked the visual style of Ekattor TV, a prominent Bangladeshi news outlet. The fake photocard claimed that supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and its alliance had clashed in Phulbari on January 22, which happened to be the first day of the election campaign period.
Dismislab’s investigation revealed that Ekattor TV had never published such content on its official Facebook page or website. The fact-checkers contacted Arif Rahman Shibly, online editor and head of output at Ekattor TV, who confirmed: “This is definitely not ours. The card has been photoshopped over our design. We also did not publish any such news anywhere.”
These incidents illustrate a growing trend of election-related misinformation in Bangladesh, mirroring similar patterns observed in other democracies worldwide. The spread of false information during electoral periods has become a significant concern globally, with social media platforms serving as primary vectors for both misinformation (false information shared without malicious intent) and disinformation (deliberately false information spread to deceive).
The timing of these false claims is particularly concerning as Bangladesh approaches a critical electoral period. Political tensions typically rise during campaign seasons, and misleading information can potentially influence voter behavior, increase polarization, or even trigger real-world confrontations between political factions.
Local media outlets and fact-checking organizations have stepped up their efforts to counter these trends by publishing regular verification reports. Their work forms part of a broader election integrity ecosystem that aims to ensure voters can make decisions based on accurate information.
Social media companies have also faced increasing pressure to address election-related misinformation on their platforms. TikTok, Facebook, and other platforms have implemented various measures to identify and limit the spread of false information, though critics argue these efforts remain insufficient given the scale of the challenge.
As Bangladesh’s election day approaches, media literacy experts recommend that voters verify information through multiple reliable sources before sharing content online, particularly when claims appear sensational or designed to provoke strong emotional responses.
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7 Comments
Glad the fact-checkers identified this misleading video on TikTok. Circulating old footage with false claims could undermine trust in the electoral process, so it’s important to set the record straight.
Absolutely. Fact-checking is crucial to maintain the integrity of elections and prevent the spread of harmful disinformation.
It’s good to see fact-checkers working to combat the spread of misinformation around elections. Outdated videos and fabricated content can really mislead people if not debunked quickly.
Disinformation around elections is a serious problem that undermines democratic processes. It’s good to see the fact-checking community in Bangladesh working to identify and debunk these false claims.
I wonder how prevalent this issue of election-related misinformation is in Bangladesh. Hopefully the fact-checkers can stay on top of it and limit the spread of these kinds of fabricated videos and claims.
Yes, it’s an ongoing challenge that fact-checkers have to vigilantly address, especially as social media makes it easier for misinformation to spread quickly.
Interesting to see how misinformation can proliferate on social media, especially around sensitive political events like elections. Kudos to the fact-checking organizations for their efforts to debunk these false claims.