Rumor Scanner Detects 296 Misinformation Cases in Apr

Rumor Scanner, a leading fact-checking organisation in Bangladesh, identified 296 instances of misinformation circulating online during the month of April 2025. Although the figure marks a slight drop from March, when 298 false claims were recorded, the scale and nature of the misinformation remain deeply concerning.

In April, the platform not only continued its regular fact-checking activities but also released several in-depth analyses and special reports. One notable publication was a “Fact File” addressing a series of recurring false claims targeting Nobel Laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus. These old rumours resurfaced prominently in the context of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, prompting a detailed rebuttal by Rumor Scanner.

The organisation's Investigation Unit also published a revealing report on a new trend involving the dissemination of political misinformation through Blogspot’s free domains. This report highlighted how such platforms are being exploited to spread false narratives with relative anonymity.

Among the 296 fact-checked items in April, the majority (101 cases, or 34%) were related to national issues, making them the most prevalent category. Political misinformation followed closely, with 95 cases, while 38 were related to international affairs. Other areas targeted included religion (27), entertainment and literature (8), education (7), fraud (10), and sports (9).

Text-based misinformation remained the dominant format, accounting for 138 cases. Meanwhile, 105 video-based claims and 53 image-based falsehoods were also identified. Upon classification, 180 of the claims were found to be completely false, 66 were misleading, and 48 were distortions of the truth. Additionally, two satirical or humorous posts were fact-checked after being widely shared as authentic content.

Social media continued to be the primary vehicle for the spread of misinformation. Facebook led the platforms with 276 identified cases, followed by YouTube (54), Instagram (48), X (formerly Twitter) with 44, TikTok with 24, and Threads with 13. Alarmingly, Rumor Scanner also uncovered misinformation disseminated by mainstream media outlets in 14 separate instances.

A concerning trend noted by the platform is the continued spread of false information about Bangladesh by Indian media outlets and social media accounts. In April alone, two such incidents were documented in Indian media, alongside two additional instances involving Indian social media users spreading misinformation targeting Bangladesh.

Communal issues were also a major focus of misinformation, with at least 16 cases identified in April. Political targeting was another notable trend, particularly in relation to the current interim government. Out of 12 verified instances of misinformation regarding the interim administration, approximately 83% portrayed the government in a negative light.

Dr Muhammad Yunus, who currently serves as the Chief Adviser of the interim government, was the subject of 29 misinformation cases—marking the highest number recorded against any individual in a single month this year. Most of these instances aimed to discredit him, with nearly 83% being categorised as negative. Other government advisers were also targeted: Dr Asif Nazrul appeared in three negative claims,