Deepfake Scandal: Bangladeshi Facebook Gambling Ads Exposed

In an alarming revelation, deepfake videos are increasingly being used to target Bangladeshi users with gambling advertisements on Facebook. A Dismislab report highlights how advanced artificial intelligence tools are now crafting fake TV news reports and speeches from prominent political figures, undermining trust and violating regulations.

The Rise of Deepfake Ads:

Deepfakes, synthetic media created using AI, have gained notoriety for their potential misuse. In Bangladesh, these deceptive tools are being employed to fabricate endorsements and legalizations of gambling apps. According to Dismislab, nine deepfake videos have been identified in over 140 Facebook ads since September 2024. These ads exploit political events and credible personalities, such as Muhammad Yunus, to promote false narratives.

Tactics Employed in the Campaign:

1. Fabricated Endorsements:
   • Ads falsely claim that the interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, endorses gambling platforms.
   • One video misleadingly depicts Yunus promoting gambling apps, suggesting he has legalized online casinos and increased winnings.
2. Manipulated Media Content:
   • Trusted media outlets, such as Somoy TV and Channel 24, have had their footage doctored to simulate authentic news reports.
   • A Channel 24 news anchor, Tanveer Ahmed, revealed his videos were used without consent, and fabricated statements like, “The Yunus Foundation allocated five million takas for flood victims,” were added.
3. Political Misinformation:
   • Claims such as “Sheikh Hasina will face additional jail time for understating casino winnings” are circulated alongside credible logos to mislead audiences.

Impact of Deepfake Ads:

• Public Misinformation: The fabricated narratives create confusion, eroding trust in political figures and institutions.
• Legal and Ethical Violations:
  • Online gambling advertisements are explicitly banned in Bangladesh by the High Court.
  • Meta’s policies prohibit gambling ads targeting Bangladeshi users, yet these ads evade detection, raising questions about the platform’s ad review systems.
• Trust Deficit in Media: By manipulating respected news brands, these campaigns damage the reputation of established media outlets.

Meta’s Policy Loopholes:

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has faced criticism for its inability to curb these violations. Despite policies banning gambling ads and requiring political ad transparency, these campaigns:

• Evade detection due to short ad durations.
• Exploit flaws in Meta’s automated ad review systems, which fail to recognize deepfake content.

Calls for Action:

Prominent voices in Bangladesh are urging Meta to take accountability. Apurba Jahangir, deputy press secretary to Muhammad Yunus, stated, “All these videos are fake, and we want to draw Meta’s attention to these matters.”

Additionally, regulators and digital rights organizations must:

1. Pressure Meta to enhance its ad review systems to detect deepfakes more effectively.
2. Advocate for stricter transparency requirements for all political and gambling-related advertisements.
3. Develop international frameworks to combat the misuse of AI-generated content.

The Broader Context:

This isn’t the first instance of such manipulation. Past campaigns have targeted Bangladeshi cricket stars Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, using altered images and logos to mislead viewers. These repetitive occurrences underline the urgent need for systemic changes.

Conclusion:

The exploitation of deepfake technology in gambling advertisements represents a dangerous precedent in Bangladesh. It undermines trust in political figures, media outlets, and social platforms. Meta must take immediate steps to address the flaws in its ad review processes, and global digital rights initiatives must work towards combating the spread of AI-generated misinformation.

Failure to act decisively could allow deepfake misuse to spiral further, impacting public trust and democratic integrity worldwide.