AI-Driven Disinformation Threatens Bangladesh Election
As Bangladesh prepares for its February 12th general election, a surge of disinformation, much of it generated by artificial intelligence, is raising concerns about the integrity of the democratic process. The election marks the nation’s first since a 2024 student-led uprising led to the departure of Sheikh Hasina, who is now in India.
Analysts warn that the scale of online manipulation has become severe, prompting authorities to create a special unit dedicated to curbing false content. “We are noticing a huge amount of fake information compared to other times,” said Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, head of the Dhaka-based research organisation Digitally Right, explaining that the accessibility of free AI tools has made creating sophisticated fakes easier.
The disinformation campaign isn’t limited to fabricated news stories. AI-generated videos are circulating on social media, including one purportedly showing a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer falsely claiming that opposition parties were responsible for recent acts of violence. Another video features individuals appearing to praise Hasina, despite her current status as a fugitive with a death sentence handed down in absentia for crimes against humanity.
The spread of disinformation isn’t confined to within Bangladesh’s borders. Recent social media outrage originating in India, fueled by Hindu fundamentalists, led to the cancellation of a Bangladeshi cricket player’s contract with an Indian domestic league. This incident escalated to the point where the Bangladesh national team withdrew from this month’s T20 World Cup in India.
While much of the disinformation appears to originate in India, authorities have not yet found evidence of direct government involvement. New Delhi’s foreign ministry has acknowledged a “disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on minorities” by “extremists in Bangladesh,” but maintains its support for “free, fair, inclusive and credible elections.”
Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, a spokesman for the Bangladesh Election Commission, stated that the commission is collaborating with Meta, Facebook’s parent company and has established a unit to monitor social media posts. However, he acknowledged the immense challenge of keeping pace with the sheer volume of online content. “If our team detects any content as harmful and misleading, we instantly announce it as fake information,” Mallik said.
Experts highlight the particular vulnerability of the Bangladeshi population to AI-generated disinformation. Jasmine Tuli, a former election commission official, pointed to the high rates of smartphone ownership – over 80 percent in urban households and nearly 70 percent in rural areas – coupled with a relative lack of digital literacy. “It is a big threat for a country like Bangladesh, since people don’t have much awareness to check the information,” Tuli explained. “Due to AI-generated fake visuals, voters get misguided in their decision.”
The intersection of AI-driven disinformation and weaknesses in the Election Commission’s cybersecurity infrastructure is a growing concern. Experts warn that vulnerabilities in voter databases and result management systems could further erode public trust in the electoral process. The potential for exposure of sensitive personal data – including national identity numbers and biometric records – raises the risk of fraud, identity theft, and targeted political manipulation.
While postal voting for overseas and special-category voters is seen as a positive step towards inclusivity, it also expands the election’s digital attack surface, creating additional opportunities for malicious actors. Detecting fake content is only part of the solution, experts say; institutional transparency, auditability, and traceability are crucial for building resilience against disinformation.
