Rumours (Gujob) and Misinformation in the Era of Information Society: A Case of Bangladesh Society

Bangladesh is one of Asia’s fastest growing internet user countries, with more than 112 million active internet users and more than fifty million social media (Facebook) subscribers. Although myth, rumour (Gujob), and misinformation (MRM) have been part of Bangladeshi society since the country's independence in 1971, in recent years, with the development of the information society (IS) and the rise of digital news platforms and social networking sites, a slew of MRM cases (religious, health, crime, and so on) have been reported and continue to be reported due to less efficient communication infrastructures and a growing number of digitally illiterate citizens. People have a tremendous capacity to cause chaos, uncertainty, and insecurity owing to the same instruments that empower them. Misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theories, rumours, hate speech, and other types of misinformation are becoming common on such digital platforms. Thematic analysis based on secondary data sources revealed that netizens desire the news media to verify the validity of shared materials, despite the fact that online portal based news platforms stated that fact checking is not their duty and is beyond their capabilities. In addition, voluntary fact checkers in Bangladesh lack enough infrastructure support, and as a consequence, MRM fuels social and communal strife, resulting in fatalities, property losses, and community cohesion. This paper explored various actions performed by various agencies to combat MRM in Bangladesh’s landscape. Several strategies have been proposed for reducing online MRM, which would aid academics, policymakers, and the general public in maintaining social cohesion and avoiding communal violence.