SACMID has been monitoring fake news, fact-checked by different websites, since November 1, 2023, after developing a monitoring tool. In the month of August 2024, SACMID monitored 525 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 307 instances of mis-/disinformation and rumor while revealing the facts behind them. There were 87 fact-checks covered by Fact Watch and 64 by Boom Bangladesh. Ajker Patrika also made a substantial contribution by covering 41 fact-checks.
79% of the false news or rumors were about National events. Most of the national news is about the fake news regarding the new interim government, coordinators of anti-discrimination student’s movement, and recent flood situation.
Out of the 525 fake news stories, SACMID selected a single, notable fact check from, Rumor Scanner which was released on August 31, 2024.
The news is : মার্কিন সেনাদের সেন্টমার্টিন দখলের ভিডিও দাবিতে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের প্রশিক্ষণ ঘাঁটির ভিডিও প্রচার