July Jumble: Political Posts Predominate in Fake News

In July of this year, a total of 296 pieces of false information were identified in Bangladesh, with 220 of them—accounting for 74 percent—being politically related. Social media emerged as the primary platform for the dissemination of these fake narratives.

Out of the 296 instances, 289 were spread via Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, and X (Twitter), while the remaining seven originated from online news portals.

The breakdown includes 28 online hoaxes, 21 entertainment-related misleading information, 13 on religious topics, six economic, five diplomatic, and three environment-related false reports.

This data was revealed on Thursday, 28 August, in a statement by the Center for Governance Studies (CGS), which published the findings on its fact-checking hub.

According to the report, June saw 324 instances of fake information. Although July’s figures are slightly lower, the overall trend remains largely unchanged. In both months, political content dominated—78 percent (253 cases) in June and 74 percent (220 cases) in July.

Domestic and international political figures were the most targeted by false information, with 66 cases, followed closely by political parties with 65 cases.

Other targets included law enforcement agencies (41 cases), celebrities (23 cases), government institutions (13 cases), religion (12 cases), the interim government (10 cases), private institutions (three cases), and religious personalities (two cases). Additionally, 61 cases of fake information were spread without targeting any specific individual or institution, aimed solely at creating public confusion.

The CGS has been monitoring fake information in the country since November 2024, providing daily tracking and publishing monthly reports.