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الوسم: disinformation

  • Imminent Disinformation Surge Before Bangladesh Election

    Imminent Disinformation Surge Before Bangladesh Election

    Voters in Bangladesh are set to choose a new government on February 12. Experts caution that their decision could be undermined by a coordinated wave of disinformation, much of which appears to originate from neighboring India.

    The predominantly Muslim country, home to approximately 170 million people, is preparing for its first election since a student-led uprising in 2024 ousted Sheikh Hasina—who has since sought refuge in India, hosted by the Hindu-nationalist government there.

    Authorities report that online manipulation, including advanced AI-generated images, has become so widespread that a dedicated unit has been established to combat false content.

    Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, serving as interim leader, stated in January that there had been a “flood of misinformation” surrounding the elections when he reached out to UN rights chief Volker Turk for assistance.

    “This misinformation comes from both foreign media and local sources,” Yunus said.

    Much of the false information centers around claims that Bangladesh’s minorities—approximately 10% of the population, mostly Hindus—are under attack. Online posts with hashtags like “Hindu genocide” have proliferated, claiming violence against Hindus.

    Police data from January indicate that in 2025, out of 645 incidents involving minority groups, only 12% were identified as sectarian in nature.

    The Center for the Study of Organized Hate, based in the US, reported tracking over 700,000 posts from more than 170,000 accounts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). These posts, created between August 2024 and January 2026, falsely claimed large-scale violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

    Raqib Naik, director of the think tank, said, “We’ve observed a coordinated disinformation campaign originating from India, falsely alleging extensive violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Over 90% of this content came from India, with the rest linked to Hindu nationalist networks in the UK, US, and Canada.”

    Some debunked posts, which had been shared tens of thousands of times, include an AI-generated video of a woman missing an arm, urging voters not to support the BNP, a leading opposition party. Another computer-generated clip shows a Hindu woman claiming that followers of the faith are being instructed to vote for Jamaat-e-Islami or face exile to India.

    Many AI-produced videos circulating on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram lack clear disclaimers indicating they are artificially generated.

    The rise in disinformation follows years of political repression under Sheikh Hasina, during which opposition voices have been stifled and dissent suppressed.

    “Compared to previous periods, there’s a significantly greater amount of fake information now,” said Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, head of Digitally Right, a research organization in Dhaka. “Easy-to-use AI tools make creating convincing fakes much simpler.”

    One AI-created video depicts Bangladeshis supposedly praising Hasina, who is now a fugitive sentenced in absentia for crimes against humanity.

    In India, social media outrage from Hindu fundamentalists concerning a Bangladeshi cricket player participating in India’s IPL league led to his team cancelling his contract. This controversy escalated, resulting in Bangladesh’s national team withdrawing from the T20 World Cup scheduled in India.

    While much of the disinformation appears to originate from India, there’s no evidence suggesting the Indian government is orchestrating these large-scale media campaigns.

    India’s foreign ministry has acknowledged a “disturbing pattern” of attacks on minorities by extremists in Bangladesh but emphasizes its commitment to “free, fair, inclusive, and credible elections.”

    The Bangladesh Election Commission’s spokesperson, Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, explained that they’re collaborating with Meta (Facebook’s parent company) and have established a social media monitoring unit. Still, managing the sheer volume of online content remains an ongoing challenge.

    “Whenever our team identifies harmful or misleading content, we promptly label it as false information,” Mallik stated.

    Election analyst Jasmine Tuli, a former official with the election commission, highlighted the particular dangers posed by AI-generated images in Bangladesh. With over 80% of urban households and nearly 70% of rural ones owning smartphones, many citizens are still relatively inexperienced with digital literacy.

    “AI-created fake visuals represent a serious threat,” Tuli warned. “Voters can be easily misled, which could influence their voting decisions.”

  • Researchers Label Disinformation as Something Else

    Researchers Label Disinformation as Something Else

    Disinformation is rapidly becoming a controversial term in the United States—a phrase so divisive that some researchers are choosing to stop using it altogether amidst the country’s deeply polarized political environment. In a digital age rife with online deception and manipulation of information, studying disinformation has never been more vital. Yet, researchers face significant challenges, including shrinking federal funding, rising hostility, and even threats to their safety, often fueled by accusations from conservative groups claiming a liberal bias.

    To navigate these tensions, some experts are adopting more neutral language—opting for terms and technical jargon that minimize controversy and keep critical conversations about internet falsehoods productive. Earlier this year, NewsGuard announced it was phasing out the use of “misinformation” and “disinformation.” The organization argued that these terms have become highly politicized, manipulated by both sides of the political spectrum and foreign actors aiming to influence domestic debates dangerously.

    Instead, they renamed their “Misinformation Fingerprints” database to “False Claim Fingerprints,” striving for language that’s more precise and less susceptible to misuse. According to NewsGuard’s McKenzie Sadeghi, simple descriptors like “false claim” cut through the partisan noise, helping to clearly focus on content without triggering political reflexes or rhetorical distractions.

    Historically, terms such as “fake news,” “misinformation,” and “disinformation” existed before the internet, but today they’re weaponized more than ever—used by governments and vested groups to silence dissent and hinder meaningful debate. Peter Cunliffe-Jones, author of “Fake News — What’s the Harm,” advocates for more specific terminology like “unproven,” “mislabelled,” or “fabricated” to better explain how information is misleading rather than just labeling it outright falsehoods. He believes this approach fosters better understanding and reduces disputes over misinformation.

    Countries like Russia often dismiss credible Western media reports as disinformation, and some governments utilize their own fact-checking efforts—sometimes state-sponsored—to legitimize propaganda under the guise of truth. Sadeghi observes that in America’s fractured info landscape, what counts as “misinformation” or “disinformation” is subjective—one person’s truth may be another’s falsehood, allowing malicious actors to exploit this ambiguity for their gain.

    The controversy intensifies as major social media platforms scale back enforcement against false content, including reducing content moderation and relying less on human fact-checkers—who often face accusations of liberal bias. Emerson Brooking from the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab warns that abandoning the term “disinformation” creates a vacuum, as there’s no simple alternative to describe intentionally deceptive content. He emphasizes that recognizing the intent behind the falsehood is crucial; for example, recognizing coordinated efforts like fake accounts posting uniform false claims as disinformation campaigns.

    Despite the political sensitivities, officials from the Trump administration have equated disinformation research with censorship, leading to actions such as the cancellation of numerous grants by the National Science Foundation and the closure of the State Department’s effort to combat foreign misinformation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified shutting down the global misinformation team, emphasizing the importance of free speech.

    Brooking concludes that even with its politicization, the term “disinformation” remains valuable because it accurately describes deliberate deceptive practices. Censoring or abandoning it risk weakening efforts to understand and counter malicious online influence, especially as authoritarian regimes and malicious actors continue to manipulate information worldwide.

  • How Indian News Channels Created a Narrative of War

    How Indian News Channels Created a Narrative of War

    Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the content in American English, ensuring it’s unique and free from plagiarism:

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    A thumbnail displays a misleading news headline from an Indian news channel. — Screenshot/YouTube

    ISLAMABAD: On May 8, several prominent Indian news platforms disseminated a wave of false and misleading information, eager to tarnish Pakistan’s image.

    “The organized disinformation effort on May 8 aimed at stirring nationalist sentiments didn’t originate from social media trolls but was instead a deluge of misleading narratives broadcast by major media networks with vast audiences,” explained TRT Global, an international news agency.

    This onslaught of falsehoods triggered rare self-reflection from notable commentators. Indian author Basant Maheshwari, who has a significant online presence, publicly apologized: “I have NEVER deleted tweets before, but today I’m removing all the tweets I made without checking the claims from our Indian media outlets. I’m not just upset about tweeting but because I mistakenly trusted what I saw!”

    Let’s take a look at some of the most absurd lies and false assertions put forth by Indian mainstream media channels that Thursday.

    On that day, Indian channel DNA shockingly tweeted from its official X account: “India attacks the Pakistani capital, Islamabad!” The post was promptly deleted without an explanation. Shortly after, Zee News echoed claims that “the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, has been occupied!”

    The hysteria escalated when Aaj Tak staged a military assault on Karachi Port, broadcasting a fake depiction of destruction as though covering an actual operation.

    India Today then joined the chaos, alleging that India had launched attacks on both Lahore and Karachi. Times Now Bharat took things even further, engaging a retired Indian military officer to lend credibility to their dramatized coverage.

    “The theatrics of the coverage were so exaggerated that they provoked both mockery and concern,” noted an international news agency.

    Among the most outrageous falsehoods was a report from ABP News, wrongly claiming that Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir had been detained.

    Disinformation reached comical levels when Zee News aired visuals suggesting the Pakistani Army had surrendered after Indian forces “captured multiple major cities.” Concurrent visuals showed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hiding in a bunker and surrendering to Indian forces within the same broadcast.



    Originally published in The News

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    Let me know if you need any further adjustments!

  • US Halts Counter-Sabotage Efforts as Trump Aligns with Putin

    US Halts Counter-Sabotage Efforts as Trump Aligns with Putin

    A 3D-printed miniature model of US President-elect Donald Trump, featuring the US and Russian flags, captured in this illustration from January 15, 2025. — Reuters

    • The National Security Council has ceased its routine meetings with European officials regarding Russian sabotage, sources say.
    • Trump’s closeness to Moscow raises concerns among officials about a potential truce in Ukraine that would favor Russia.
    • The Biden administration previously set up working groups to keep an eye on the increasing Russian military actions.

    NEW YORK/BERLIN: Multiple U.S. national security agencies have stopped their coordinated efforts to combat Russian disinformation, sabotage, and cyber threats, potentially relieving pressure on Moscow as the Trump administration urges Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

    Last year, former President Joe Biden instructed his national security team to create working groups to monitor Russian activities in light of U.S. intelligence warnings about Russia intensifying its covert operations against Western countries.

    The initiative, spearheaded by the President’s National Security Council (NSC), involved at least seven national security agencies collaborating with European allies to thwart operations targeting the U.S. and Europe, according to seven former officials involved in the working groups who spoke with Reuters.

    Prior to Donald Trump being sworn in, his incoming administration was briefed by Biden officials about these efforts and encouraged to continue monitoring Russia’s unconventional warfare tactics, the officials added.

    However, since Trump took office on January 20, many of these efforts have come to a halt, according to eleven current and former officials who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.

    Reuters was the first to reveal the comprehensive nature of the Biden administration’s initiative and the subsequent pause in operations by various U.S. agencies.

    Regular meetings between the NSC and European counterparts dedicated to national security issues have been put on hold, and formal coordination among U.S. agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and State Department, has ceased, as noted by the current and former officials.

    It remains unclear whether the President has directed an outright cessation of all efforts to monitor and combat Russia’s activities, whether agencies are still trying to recruit additional personnel, or if they are making autonomous policy decisions without the White House’s directive.

    Some insiders have expressed concern that the Trump administration is deprioritizing the issue despite intelligence alerts. This shift has occurred alongside the dismantling of other Russia-centric initiatives initiated by the Biden administration.

    For instance, last month, the FBI concluded its operations intended to combat foreign interference in U.S. elections, including threats from Russia, and placed staff members working on these matters on leave within the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Justice also disbanded a team that had been responsible for seizing assets belonging to Russian oligarchs.

    The White House has not communicated to career officials previously involved whether the cross-agency working groups will be re-established, according to current U.S. officials.

    The extent of ongoing intelligence-sharing related to the sabotage campaign with European allies remains uncertain. However, UK government officials have indicated that standard intelligence sharing between the U.S. and the UK continues unabated.

    When approached for comment regarding the suspension of coordinated efforts, the White House directed inquiries to the NSC.

    Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated that the NSC “coordinates with relevant agencies to evaluate and mitigate threats against Americans.”

    “President Trump has made it very clear that any attack against the U.S. will prompt a disproportionate response,” he added.

    A senior U.S. official at NATO confirmed that coordination with allies continues on these matters but refrained from providing further details. The CIA, FBI, and State Department declined to comment.

    Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that she had no specific information to offer regarding the suspension of some intelligence-sharing sessions.

    She mentioned that the EU was collaborating with NATO to counter hybrid threats, which encompass a wide range of issues from physical sabotage of key infrastructure to disinformation campaigns.

    New Approach to Europe

    The pause in the cross-agency initiative comes as Trump alters U.S. policy towards Europe and Ukraine, prompting worries among some current and former officials, both American and European, that Ukraine might be pressured into a truce that benefits Russia.

    Recently, Trump has made comments and enacted policies that seem to align favorably with Russian interests, eliciting criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans.

    Nonetheless, the President maintains that the Ukraine conflict could escalate into World War III, asserting that better relations with Russia are in the United States’ strategic best interest.

    Putin agreed to a proposal from Trump on Tuesday for a 30-day ceasefire regarding attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, following an extensive phone conversation between the two leaders, the Kremlin reported.

    Experts have warned to Reuters that reducing efforts to counter Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics could pose significant risks for the United States.

    “We’re opting to turn a blind eye to possible acts of war against us,” said Kori Schake, director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank based in Washington that has criticized Trump’s engagements with Putin.

    Over the past three years, Russia has recruited operatives from various European nations to execute sabotage missions across the continent—ranging from arson and assassination attempts to planting explosives on cargo planes. Additionally, Russia has employed influence campaigns and cyber operations to undermine support for Ukraine, according to Western intelligence officials.

    These intelligence officials noted that while the number of sabotage incidents by Russia declined at the end of 2024, they anticipated that Moscow would maintain its hybrid warfare efforts as long as Western support for Ukraine persists.

    Asked about the suspension of some of Washington’s activities related to its hybrid warfare tracking, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked that the Trump administration was attempting to eliminate “everything ineffective, corrupt, and implausible,” an approach he deemed “understandable.”

    He added that Western allegations regarding Russia’s involvement in sabotage on U.S. and European soil are “baseless and fleeting,” with no evidence to substantiate them.