BanglaFact helping curb deepfakes, online misinformation: Info Minister

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon told Parliament on Wednesday that the Press Institute Bangladesh's (PIB) BanglaFact initiative is playing a key role in combating AI-driven misinformation, deepfakes and cybercrimes while safeguarding media freedom.

Replying to a written question from opposition lawmaker Md Rafiqul Islam Khan (Sirajganj-4), the minister said BanglaFact had so far published 860 fact-checks, analytical reports, investigative reports, videos and reels.

“Of these, 306 have been published since the current government assumed office,” he said.

Highlighting the ministry's capacity-building initiatives, Swapon said that between 1 October 2024 and June 2026, PIB organised 141 training workshops across all 64 districts, providing training to 6,774 journalists.

“Since the current government assumed office, 20 training workshops have been held with the participation of 739 journalists,” he added.

The minister said specialised training programmes on AI, digital journalism and fact-checking are also continuing.

He said BanglaFact has been regularly identifying fake social media accounts, pages and groups created in the names of individuals and organisations, as well as websites and social media accounts involved in spreading misinformation.

On establishing a national fact-checking framework, Swapon said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is continuing efforts, in coordination with the relevant ministries and agencies, to introduce the necessary policy and institutional measures to prevent rumours, misinformation and cybercrimes on digital platforms while ensuring media freedom.