Bangladesh Calls on Meta to Combat Disinformation Campaign Targeting Nation’s Stability
DHAKA, Bangladesh – December 8, 2024 – In a meeting with Meta’s Director for Human Rights Policy, Miranda Sissons, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus urged the social media giant to take decisive action against a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting Bangladesh. Yunus stressed the gravity of the situation, stating that the nation is suffering from the malicious spread of false information originating from foreign actors seeking to destabilize the country following the July-August mass uprising. The meeting, held at the State Guest House Jamuna, underscored the critical need for collaboration between the Bangladeshi government and Meta to address the escalating threat to the nation’s security and social fabric.
The Chief Adviser highlighted the vulnerability of Bangladesh to online disinformation campaigns, emphasizing the detrimental impact on public discourse and social cohesion. He called on Meta to leverage its technological resources and expertise to counter the spread of manipulative narratives and fabricated content, which threatens to undermine the nation’s hard-won progress and stability. Yunus stressed the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the need for swift and effective measures to protect the integrity of information disseminated through Meta’s platforms, particularly Facebook.
Sissons, representing Meta’s human rights policy division, reassured the Chief Adviser of the company’s commitment to addressing disinformation and outlined the ongoing efforts to prevent the misuse of their platforms for spreading malicious content. She underscored Meta’s awareness of the challenges faced by Bangladesh and reiterated their dedication to working alongside the government to mitigate the harmful effects of disinformation campaigns. Sissons emphasized the importance of transparency and collaboration in tackling this issue, acknowledging the complex nature of online information manipulation and the shared responsibility in combating its damaging consequences.
Beyond the urgent concern of disinformation, the Chief Adviser also addressed the potential of Meta’s platforms to empower young entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. He urged the company to enhance the user-friendliness of its technology, making it more accessible and beneficial for aspiring business owners. Yunus emphasized the need to re-engineer technology to serve human needs and societal progress, highlighting the transformative power of platforms like Facebook in fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth, particularly among the youth.
Yunus envisioned a collaborative partnership with Meta, leveraging the platform to create opportunities for young Bangladeshis to harness the potential of technology for economic empowerment. He expressed the government’s commitment to engaging with Facebook to unlock the immense possibilities for the nation’s youth, emphasizing the importance of providing them with the tools and resources to thrive in the digital age. The Chief Adviser painted a vision of a future where technology serves as a catalyst for innovation and economic development, empowering young entrepreneurs to contribute to the nation’s prosperity.
The meeting concluded with a shared understanding of the importance of addressing both the immediate threat of disinformation and the long-term potential for collaboration between Bangladesh and Meta. Present at the meeting were key officials from both sides, including Lamiya Morshed, Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs; Shazeeb M Khairul Islam, Chief Adviser’s Personal Secretary-2; Ruzan Sarwar, Head of Meta’s Public Policy for Bangladesh and Nepal; Nayantara Narayan, Associate General Counsel of Meta; and Alice Budisatrijo, Meta’s Head of Misinformation Policy for Asia-Pacific. This high-level meeting signaled a strong commitment to working together to combat disinformation and foster a more positive and productive online environment for the benefit of Bangladesh and its citizens.