India and Bangladesh outline strategies to combat digital disinformation

Governments in India and Bangladesh are emphasizing new strategies to combat the spread of misinformation and regulate digital media.

In India, the government outlined measures in the Lok Sabha to strengthen credible information dissemination. This includes the operation of a Fact Check Unit (FCU) within the Press Information Bureau to verify claims related to central ministries and government organizations. Verified information is distributed through platforms like Doordarshan and Akashvani. Additionally, the government highlighted the Information Technology Rules of 2021, which establish due-diligence requirements for intermediaries and a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism for digital news and OTT platforms.

In Bangladesh, Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon called for a unified effort between the government, media, and civil society to protect public discourse. During a meeting with Ambassador Irene Khan, the minister highlighted the challenges posed by unregulated social media channels and the rapid spread of fabricated content, noting that such disinformation poses risks to national stability and democratic processes.