SACMID has been monitoring fake news, fact-checked by different websites, since November 1, 2023, after developing a monitoring tool. In the month of February 2024, SACMID monitored 300 cases of false information in Bangladesh from 5 fact-checking websites: Rumor Scanner, Boom Bangladesh, Fact Watch, Dismislab, and Ajker Patrika. Among these, Rumor Scanner was the most active fact-checking website, identifying 165 instances of mis-/disinformation and rumor while revealing the facts behind them. There were 41 fact-checks covered by Boom Bangladesh and 37 by Fact Watch. Ajker Patrika also made a substantial contribution by covering 51 fact-checks.
25% of the false news or rumors were about National events, 13% were Politics, and 11% were International news. Apart from these subjects, the majority of other fake news is about sports, 14%, entrainment, 13% and education, 11%.
Out of the 300 fake news stories, SACMID selected a single, notable fact check from Fact-Watch, which was released on February 29, 2024.
The news is: ৭ কোটি গ্রাহক পূর্তিতে ব্যবহারকারীদের ৭৯৯৯ টাকা করে বোনাস দিচ্ছে বিকাশ?