SACMID has been monitoring fake news, fact-checked by different websites, since November 1, 2023, after developing a monitoring tool. In the month of March 2024, SACMID monitored 354 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 216 instances of mis-/disinformation and rumor while revealing the facts behind them. There were 40 fact-checks covered by Fact Watch and 34 by Boom Bangladesh. Ajker Patrika also made a substantial contribution by covering 50 fact-checks.
31% of the false news or rumors were about National events, 21% were Sports, and 14% were International news. Apart from these subjects, the majority of other fake news is about politics and religion both 7%.
Out of the 354 fake news stories, SACMID selected a single, notable fact check from Rumor Scanner, which was released on March 30, 2024.
The news is: রাষ্ট্রপতির ছবি ব্যবহার করে দেশের প্রত্যেক নাগরিককে ১৫ হাজার টাকা সহায়তার ভুয়া ক্যাম্পেইন