Stopping online misinformation

Strategies for countering misinformation on social media in Bangladesh

Sakir Mohammad

In a recent interview with the BBC, Elon Musk said that one person's misinformation is another person's information and there is no arbiter of truth. He believes that people who are apparently spreading misinformation should be given a platform to do so because we cannot decide what is true and what is false. But is he right? Should we give individuals a chance to say whatever they deem fit?

The answer is a resounding NO! Every action has consequences, and so has every word. Sometimes it can result in loss of life, polarization or, even worse, corruption of the mind. People believing in the flat earth or miracle cures is problematic, to say the least, especially in a country like Bangladesh where quality education remains a challenge. Things like this have existed long before social media, but because of social media, misinformation now prevails everywhere. 

Recently, I visited the Facebook profiles of some of my relatives and realized that they have “solutions” to every social, religious, and health problem on their feed. Sharing everything that seems interesting on social media and believing in them is particularly rampant among the less educated and older generations. The problem is twofold: The less educated spread misinformation (unintentionally spreading false news) and the educated spread disinformation (intentionally spreading false news).

So, how do you define and combat misinformation/disinformation? The answer to the first is simple: We have to be able to trust in someone or some entity who will define and decide what is fact and what is fake. Thinking like post-modernists -- who claim there is no absolute truth in this world -- will not take us anywhere. We must trust certain authorities -- whether the Bangladesh Cyber Police Authority or some other government agency -- we have to believe in some authority.

When it comes to combating misinformation, the first and most important weapon is media literacy. As the media reaches every corner of the world, so should education. We take pride in the fact that around 40% of the total population in Bangladesh has access to the internet, but how many of these people are media literate? Are they merely passive consumers and active disseminators of false news and ideas?  

Moreover, the government should be serious about challenging fake news. We see them acting like the omnipotent God when anything in the media challenges their beliefs or ideas. They can arrest a 15-year-old boy for criticizing the Prime Minister. Can we expect the same actions for spreading misinformation or disinformation?

Facebook and other social media outlets should also take some responsibility. According to some news outlets, Facebook might have earned 200-220 crores from Bangladesh in 2021. Would it be illogical to demand a fraction of that money to moderate content in Bangla? Facebook has spent millions to moderate content that is in English. It is high time that Facebook does the same for other languages as well. 

Elon Musk's statement may hold some truth, but when it comes to removing misinformation and disinformation, we must be more serious because of the potentially severe consequences of spreading false information and ideas. The government should take a serious, deep look into this matter. At the same time citizens, civil society, and educators should think about new ways of combating the dissemination of false, fake, and fabricated information. 

Sakir Mohammad is the Editor in Chief of NSU Journal of Student Research, North South University

Reach him at sakirmohammad5@gmail.com