The government is continuing policy and institutional measures to prevent rumours, misinformation and cybercrimes stemming from the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfake technologies while safeguarding media freedom, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon told Parliament today.
Ministry Initiatives
Replying to a written question from opposition lawmaker Md Rafiqul Islam Khan (Sirajganj-4), Swapon said, 'The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is implementing various activities to prevent rumours, misinformation, disinformation, confusion and cyberbullying caused by the misuse of AI and deepfake technologies.'
Role of Press Institute Bangladesh
With Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir-Bikram, in the chair, Swapon said the ministry's autonomous institution, the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB), has been playing an active role through its BanglaFact, the official fact-checking, media research, and analysis initiative.
'So far, BanglaFact has published 860 fact-checks, analytical reports, investigative reports, videos and reels, of which 306 have been published since the current government assumed office,' he said.
Capacity-Building Initiatives
Highlighting capacity-building initiatives, the minister said, 'From October 1, 2024 to June 2026, 141 training workshops were organised in all 64 districts, providing training to 6,774 journalists. Since the current government assumed office, 20 training workshops have been held with the participation of 739 journalists.'
He said specialised training programmes on AI, digital journalism and fact-checking are also continuing.
Monitoring and Fact-Checking
The minister said BanglaFact has been regularly identifying fake social media accounts, pages and groups opened in the names of individuals and organisations, as well as websites and social media accounts involved in spreading misinformation.
'At present, reports are being published after verifying an average of three to five claims every day, while the publication of a Fact-Checking Manual for media professionals is now at the final stage,' he continued.
National Fact-Checking Framework
Regarding a national fact-checking framework, Swapon said, 'While ensuring freedom of the media, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is continuing activities to take necessary policy and institutional measures, in coordination with the relevant ministries and agencies, to prevent rumours, misinformation and cybercrimes on digital platforms.'
The government's efforts to combat misinformation and cybercrimes are crucial in maintaining public trust and ensuring the integrity of digital information. With the increasing use of AI and deepfake technologies, these measures are more important than ever to protect citizens from harmful and misleading content.
