As Bangladesh prepares for its national elections in February 2026, UNESCO Dhaka has brought together representatives from digital platforms, civil society organizations (CSOs), and media development and fact-checking bodies to strengthen electoral information integrity and address emerging digital risks.
The day-long, in-person workshop was organized in collaboration with Digitally Right under the UN Electoral Project Building Awareness, Literacy, and Ownership of Online Information Integrity and Democratic Discourse (BALLOT).
Over 30 participants from more than 20 CSOs joined the dialogue, aimed at fostering collaborative, rights-based responses to digital threats affecting elections, in support of the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC).
Online representatives from Meta and TikTok shared practical insights into community standards, content moderation, reporting mechanisms, and enforcement challenges. Discussions also addressed the rising impact of artificial intelligence, including AI-generated content and deepfakes, on electoral information.
Senior CSO leaders, media development and fact-checking organizations, development partners, and information integrity experts examined challenges posed by misinformation, disinformation, hateful content, and manipulated media on digital platforms. They highlighted potential consequences on public trust, voter confidence, and social cohesion during elections.
Participants emphasized that traditional media-centric responses are no longer sufficient. They stressed multi-stakeholder engagement, enhanced digital literacy, and deeper understanding of platform governance and content moderation systems.
Recent UNESCO Dhaka consultations under the BALLOT Project, along with a CSO-level dialogue hosted by Digitally Right in November 2025, underscored Bangladesh’s growing vulnerability to mis- and disinformation, posing serious risks to public confidence in electoral processes.
Grounded in UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, the workshop provided a neutral and inclusive space to discuss electoral information integrity and strengthen CSO and media capacities to identify, report, and escalate harmful online content. Relevant digital and human rights frameworks were introduced to promote responsible platform governance and inclusive online participation.
The workshop opened with remarks by Dr Susan Vize, head of office and UNESCO representative to Bangladesh, followed by a presentation by UNESCO Senior Project Officer Mehdi Benchelah. Additional presentations were delivered by FactWatch on election fact-checking and by Digitally Right on digital safety tools, providing practical guidance for journalists, CSOs, and other stakeholders.
Through group discussions and experience-sharing, participants identified follow-up initiatives under the BALLOT Project, particularly to enhance online safety and information integrity for journalists and vulnerable groups during elections.
The outcomes are expected to strengthen situational awareness among electoral stakeholders, including the BEC, and to inform future efforts supporting credible, transparent, and peaceful elections in Bangladesh.
