A monthly newsletter on disinformation trends in Bangladesh
Deepfake videos turn political figures into gambling promoters on Facebook
Social media gambling advertisements targeting Bangladeshi users are becoming more sophisticated, now, incorporating deepfake videos and audio. Advertisers are using artificial intelligence tools to create fake TV news reports and fabricated speeches by prominent political figures to lend credibility to these ads. Most of these ads evade Meta’s political ad transparency requirements despite featuring prominent political figures. The platform’s ad review system is failing to detect these violations, allowing the ads to disappear quickly after running and limiting opportunities to verify their false claims.
How Religious Misinformation Became More Vicious, More Targeted, and More Divisive in 2024
Religious misinformation in Bangladesh has evolved alongside the country’s shifting political landscape, becoming increasingly localized and divisive. Early in the year, narratives focused on broad themes of religious glorification and miraculous claims. By August, following the political transition, the focus shifted sharply to communal tensions and hostility. During this period, communal conflict-related misinformation rose nearly fivefold, and religious hatred more than doubled compared to the preceding seven months.
Tech Policy Press
What to Fix
