As Bangladesh heads into its 13th national parliamentary election, AI-driven disinformation has surfaced as a new and formidable threat, compounding already heightened political tensions.
Experts warn that rapid advances in artificial intelligence have made the election information ecosystem more volatile than ever.
Analysts say AI-generated falsehoods now pose a direct challenge to holding a free, credible and participatory election.
Social media has become a central battlefield of political campaigning. Fake videos, doctored audio clips and fabricated images-many generated using AI-are spreading fast across Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X. Deepfake technology, in particular, is being used to manipulate or fabricate statements by political leaders, misleading voters with content that often looks disturbingly real.
Election observers say the aim is clear sow doubt, fuel confusion and stoke fear. In some cases, disinformation undermines trust in the electoral process itself; in others, it targets individual candidates or parties. The result is deeper polarization and a growing risk of violence.
Data from fact-checking platform Rumor Scanner Bangladesh underscore the scale of the problem. As of last December, 309 pieces of false information linked to the election had been identified. Over the past year, 2,281 political disinformation items were recorded-more than in any other category. December alone saw 446 cases, the highest monthly tally. Analysts also noted a 409 percent surge in AI-generated deepfakes last year, with political disinformation rising sharply after October.
Senior journalist Parvez Khan told The Daily Observer that early fears of rampant rumour-mongering have materialized as campaigning intensified. He said visually striking "photo cards"-often designed to mimic mainstream media layouts-have become a powerful tool for spreading falsehoods on Facebook.
Professor Dr. Shamsul Alam of Jahangirnagar University said AI itself is not the enemy, but its misuse is. He warned that political actors-and at times even media outlets-are contributing to the spread of rumours. With election day approaching, he expects AI-generated content to multiply, making coordinated countermeasures crucial.
Election Commission Director (Public Relations) Ruhul Amin Mallik said the spread of false information is a punishable offence and confirmed that the Commission's monitoring teams are on round-the-clock watch.
To counter the threat, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has formed a special cell working with multiple agencies.
National Cyber Security Council Chairman and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has instructed authorities to ensure maximum cyber security ahead of the polls.
ICT Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury said on Tuesday that a high-powered committee is leading the response. A 15-member team is monitoring online content, while 21 engineers remain on 24-hour duty. Under the Cyber Safety Ordinance, 29 percent of reported content was taken down in the past month.
