A “magic machine” that turns rumors into truth, truth into lies, and even day into night has begun to poison everyday life. Those who have fallen victim to its impact feel the pain of this toxicity all too deeply. Concerns that this election would face such pain and challenges were expressed earlier by the Chief Election Commissioner, and even the Chief Adviser voiced his apprehension. In reality, the situation has now become far more severe than mere concern or anxiety.
The picture on the ground is alarming. Everyone is doing whatever they can. It has become impossible to stop who is targeting whom, and what kind of AI-generated content is being produced and released. People are getting confused, disorder is spreading, and certain quarters are achieving their intended objectives.
The country, the government, the Election Commission, candidates, voters—above all, the people—have all fallen victim to this cyber menace. Where it may lead by election day is enough to send shivers down the spine of any conscious observer of the surrounding environment.
To combat fake information and misinformation, the government has sought assistance from international organizations, including the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. In addition, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has formed a special cell that will remain active until the upcoming national election to counter fake information, misleading content, and rumors.
The NCSA is coordinating with the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), and law enforcement agencies. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is also working to prevent misinformation and rumors during the election. Cyber security units of law enforcement agencies have been instructed to remain on the highest alert and stay proactive. Yet, despite these efforts, the tide of misinformation and rumors continues unabated.
Statistics from fact-checking organization Rumor Scanner show that as the election approaches, the online space is being flooded with rumors and deepfake videos. In December alone, the organization identified 446 instances of political misinformation. Just a few years ago, artificial intelligence (AI) was considered a distant, almost fictional concept. Today, it is becoming an integral part of everyday life. Mobile phones are everywhere, the world is digital, and people are digital too. Countless unimaginable methods are now influencing human minds—making life easier and more advanced on one hand, while misuse of these technologies has become a source of widespread harm on the other.
The term AI stands for Artificial Intelligence—“artificial” meaning man-made, and “intelligence” meaning cognitive ability. In short, AI refers to machine-based intelligence capable of demonstrating high levels of skill. It can instantly generate results or explanations. AI systems can think like humans—or even more advanced than humans—by processing data through sophisticated algorithms and deep analysis. Naturally, public interest in AI has grown rapidly.
However, because AI can collect and analyze personal data, those inclined toward misuse have become reckless ahead of the election. Creating fake news using AI has become relatively easy. Through deepfake videos and images, false information is being spread for political and social purposes. This has become dangerous for both the electoral process and social stability. Clear policies and laws governing artificial intelligence are urgently needed to prevent misuse. Without joint action by the government and international organizations, the risks ahead are grave.
Everything beneficial has some downsides—this is a law of nature. Yet experts warn that if control over AI is lost, it could begin to view humans as adversaries, posing serious risks to humanity. Elections in countries such as the United States, Turkey, Slovakia, Argentina, Indonesia, India, Poland, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Zambia, and France have already seen misuse of AI. Bangladesh’s 2024 “dummy election” was no exception. Often, by the time victims realize the damage, the government’s term is nearing its end. Although AI was not as advanced or accessible in early 2025, its growing availability has now heightened anxieties about what may happen next.
Due to poor digital literacy in Bangladesh, it is extremely difficult to counter negative content spread about the Election Commission, candidates, political parties, or law enforcement agencies. AI-generated fake videos, audio, and images now appear almost indistinguishable from the real thing—commonly known as “deepfakes.” Another form is “cheapfakes.” Various deepfake and cheapfake techniques are being used to spread misinformation, including attaching misleading captions to real images or videos, editing statements out of context, attributing fabricated quotes to real individuals, and presenting old images or news as recent events.
As the election draws closer, political misinformation is intensifying, affecting top leaders from various parties. Fake graphics mimicking media photocards, TV tickers, and news portal designs are spreading rapidly. Fabricated data, figures, statistics, and screenshots easily capture public attention, making this a booming market with high engagement.
These operations do not require large offices. Yet, ahead of the election, content production is reportedly taking place from secret locations. Some individuals based abroad regularly spread misinformation and propaganda about Bangladesh via Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms, mixing truth with falsehood and inciting unrest. While accounts and pages spreading misinformation can sometimes be identified, uncovering those behind them remains difficult.
Broadly, two groups are involved in spreading rumors and misinformation—one driven by political or ideological motivations, and the other motivated by money. The misinformation market has always been lucrative. Falsehoods spread faster than verified information and often gain more traction. Many people find lies comforting when they support their own views, but condemn them as rumors only when they go against them. This has led to a situation where even senior political leaders sometimes base their statements on rumors circulating on social media.
Discussions often gain momentum from fake Facebook photocards. Occasionally, even mainstream media outlets end up publishing such false news. As hard as it may sound, when news and rumors become indistinguishable in a society, journalism ethics and principles are the first casualties. Even institutionally educated individuals often struggle to distinguish between news, misinformation, propaganda, and rumors. Exploiting this confusion, fake news is being circulated using logos and designs that closely resemble those of popular media outlets.
Fake outlets designed to mimic mainstream newspapers and TV channels—using names, logos, and layouts nearly identical to the originals—are flooding the market with misleading photocards. Many people believe them because, at first glance, it is difficult to tell whether these photocards are fake or real. Often, only after they go viral does it become clear that they are fabricated.
This toxic epidemic of AI-generated fake news products and photocards is creating ongoing instability in society, undermining the integrity of elections and pushing mainstream journalism into a troubling crossroads.
Author: Journalist and Columnist, Deputy Head of News, Banglavision
