Dr. Yunus Urges Meta to Take Action Against Misinformation on Facebook

Dhaka, Dec. 8 – Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, has called on Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to take immediate action to curb the spread of misleading propaganda about Bangladesh on social media platforms.

The appeal was made during a meeting between Dr. Yunus and Miranda Sissons, Meta’s Director of Human Rights Policy, at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday, December 8.

Dr. Yunus expressed concerns about the widespread disinformation campaign, stating, “A large-scale misinformation campaign is underway, and we are the victims of it.” He further claimed that certain countries are spreading false propaganda against Bangladesh to undermine what he described as the “political achievements” of the country.

In response, Sissons assured Dr. Yunus that Meta is vigilant about ensuring its platform is not used to spread confusion and misinformation. She elaborated on Meta’s human rights policies, emphasizing the company’s commitment to preventing the dissemination of misleading content.

Dr. Yunus also urged Meta to make technology more accessible to young entrepreneurs, suggesting that Facebook could be a useful tool to foster entrepreneurship among Bangladesh’s youth. He indicated that the government of Bangladesh would continue to engage with Meta to create opportunities for young people in the country.

The meeting was attended by several officials, including Lamia Morshed, Chief Coordinator for the SDGs, the Chief Adviser’s Personal Secretary-2, Sajib M. Khairul Islam, Meta’s Public Policy Head for Bangladesh and Nepal, Rujan Sarwar, Meta’s Associate General Counsel, Nayanthara Narayan, and Meta’s Head of Misinformation for the Asia-Pacific region, Alice Budishatrijo.