Since the beginning of civilization the information has driven power and progress. But in the 21st century the artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G technology have transformed how information spreads. Alongside this explosion of accessible information, a dangerous problem has emerged: rumors and deepfakes. This crisis is not just shaking public trust it threatens state security, social harmony and even global politics. As fake content grows more convincing the line between truth and falsehood is disappearing.
Spreading rumors and misinformation is nothing new in human history. From tribal conflicts to world wars the falsehoods have long been used as weapons. But today's digital world allows fake content to spread instantly across borders. The most dangerous addition to this problem is deepfake technology synthetic audio and video created using deep learning and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). Deepfakes can make it appear that someone said or did something they never actually did. As a result the people can no longer fully trust what they see or hear online.
This is not a theoretical threat. According to the Brookings Institution the volume of AI-generated fake content online is doubling every year. A global survey by Deeptrace found that deepfake videos are increasing rapidly with many used to destabilize social and political systems. While this trend is strongest in developed countries also Bangladesh is not immune.
Bangladeshi fact-checking organizations including Rumor Scanner, Dismislab, and BD FactCheck report thousands of rumor and deepfake incidents each year, targeting political figures, religious groups and private citizens. During past elections the deepfake technology was used to create offensive videos aimed at discouraging women's participation in politics. In some cases the fake audio clips and doctored images related to religious issues have triggered communal violence, seriously damaging law and order and social harmony.
Why Do Fake Stories Spread So Fast?
Research suggests that human psychology is not just technology also drives the spread of misinformation. A well-known MIT study found that fake news spreads six times faster than real news and is 70 percent more likely to be shared. This happens because of "confirmation bias" people tend to believe information that matches their existing beliefs or emotions. When someone sees a controversial video of a political figure they already dislike also they often accept it as true before verifying its authenticity. This psychological weakness is what allows deepfakes to spread so effectively.
The Real-World Damage
The impact of deepfakes reaches deep into society, politics and personal lives:
1.Threat to democracy: A fake video such as a fabricated confession released just before an election can shift public opinion instantly. Even after being proven false also the damage to trust in the democratic process is often irreversible.
2. Danger to women: Globally, around 96 percent of deepfake misuse involves non-consensual explicit content targeting women. This technology is increasingly used for cyberbullying, blackmail and harassment, harming women's dignity, safety and mental health.
3. Erosion of trust in media the "Liar's Dividend": As people realize that video and audio can be faked also they become skeptical of even genuine reporting. This also allows real wrongdoers to dismiss authentic evidence of their crimes by simply calling it a "deepfake."
What Needs to Be Done
Solving this crisis requires coordinated action from the state, society, and technology companies:
a)Technological safeguards: Governments and international bodies should press major tech companies like Meta, Google and OpenAI to adopt watermarking and metadata systems that automatically flag AI-generated content when it is uploaded.
b) Stronger legal frameworks: Bangladesh's cyber security laws need to be updated to specifically address deepfake fraud and digital character assassination with clear and strict penalties to deter offenders.
c) Media accountability: Mainstream media outlets should prioritize accuracy over speed and maintain dedicated fact-checking and deepfake-detection teams.
d) Digital literacy: Educational curriculum from primary school onward should include digital and information literacy. Citizens should be encouraged to verify information before sharing it especially on sensitive topics.
Deepfakes and rumors are not just side effects of new technology they represent a direct threat to truth itself. Without strong laws the better technology and greater public awareness, society risks entering an era where fact and fiction become impossible to distinguish. Protecting truth in the digital age is no longer just a moral responsibility it is essential to preserving democracy, safety and public trust.
Author: Md. Jobaed Mullick Bulbul (Journalist and Columnist).
