Bangladesh’s interim chief advisor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has issued a strong call to action to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, demanding intervention in what he describes as a large-scale disinformation campaign actively targeting Bangladesh’s current political landscape.
On Sunday, Dr. Yunus engaged in crucial talks with Miranda Sissons, Meta’s director for human rights policy, at the State Guest House Jamuna. During the meeting, Dr. Yunus emphatically stated, “There is a massive disinformation campaign, and we are the sufferers.” He highlighted the urgent need for Meta to actively combat the spread of false and misleading information that is negatively impacting the nation.
In response to Dr. Yunus’s concerns, Ms. Sissons outlined Meta’s human rights policy, assuring the chief advisor of the company’s commitment to preventing its platforms from being used to disseminate disinformation. She emphasized Meta’s ongoing efforts and vigilance in identifying and addressing such campaigns.
Beyond the immediate issue of disinformation, Dr. Yunus also leveraged the meeting to advocate for increased technological accessibility for Bangladesh’s young entrepreneurs. He stressed the transformative power of technology but emphasized the crucial need for user-friendly interfaces that empower young people to utilize these tools effectively. “Technology is a tool to make things happen,” Dr. Yunus explained, “But technology does not decide what we want to do with things. So we have to reengineer it to make it perfect. With Facebook, you have a tremendous amount of possibility. Facebook could be used to make young people entrepreneurs.”
Dr. Yunus underscored the Bangladeshi government’s ongoing commitment to collaborating with Facebook to maximize the benefits of technology for the country’s young population. The meeting, according to The Dhaka Tribune, included several other senior government officials and Meta representatives.
This recent engagement with Meta follows a pattern of Bangladesh actively refuting instances of communal violence, often characterizing such incidents as the result of distorted truths or outright fake news. Previous instances have involved accusations of “overreaction” from neighboring India regarding concerns about the welfare of minority groups in Bangladesh.
The meeting between Dr. Yunus and Meta highlights the growing global concern surrounding the role of social media platforms in the spread of disinformation and their impact on political stability. It underscores the importance of collaboration between governments and technology companies to combat this issue effectively and ensure the responsible use of technology for societal benefit. The continued dialogue between Bangladesh and Meta promises to shape the future of online information sharing within the country and potentially serve as a model for other nations grappling with similar challenges.
