Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven criminal activities are surging in Bangladesh alongside a rapid increase in AI users, as highlighted in a recent report. Experts emphasize the urgent necessity for a comprehensive national and global ‘AI Policy’ to address these negative impacts and prevent misuse.
A local fact-checking organization revealed alarming statistics, with 68 severe rumors and misinformation targeting 29 prominent women in the showbiz industry in Bangladesh. Notably, 50 of these smear campaigns involved video contents created using advanced AI technology, posing significant challenges in distinguishing truth from manipulated content.
The widespread use of AI by television studios and social media platforms to produce ‘Deepfakes’ is complicating the ability of ordinary individuals to discern reality from fabricated content. Moreover, the popularity of AI-driven image creation tools among the youth and the adoption of conversational chatbots like Copilot, Midjourney, and others are on the rise in the country.
Experts caution that the unregulated proliferation of AI could not only damage individual dignity but also have long-term adverse effects on the education system, job market, and cinema industry in Bangladesh. Calls for immediate implementation of stringent AI regulations are accompanied by warnings against potential misuse of such laws to stifle dissent and criticism.
To address these challenges effectively, experts advocate for clear legislative definitions distinguishing between criticism, misinformation, hate speech, satire, and political sarcasm. Ambiguity in the law could lead to a ‘rumor prevention law’ transforming into a tool for suppressing criticism, underscoring the need for precise legal frameworks.
Furthermore, the report emphasizes the importance of holding social media giants like Facebook, TikTok, and others accountable locally. Enhancing transparency, implementing local language moderation, and combating fake accounts, bot networks, and unlabelled AI-generated content are crucial steps in countering misinformation and divisive content.
