Microsoft Survey: India Tops the World in Spreading Misinformation

International Desk

03 Dec 2024, 20:13

Photo: Collected

India has emerged as the leading country in spreading misinformation globally. Social media platforms and even traditional news outlets in India are inundated with false information and propaganda. This revelation comes from a recent Microsoft survey, which highlights that India spreads more fake news than any other country.

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According to the survey, over 60% of Indians reported encountering fake news online, compared to a global average of 57%. Furthermore, more than half of the Indian respondents admitted to falling victim to online scams, a figure exceeding the global average of 50%. About 42% of Indians reported experiences with phishing or spoofing attacks.

The study analyzed various online risks, including data breaches, cyberbullying, unsolicited sexual messages, misinformation, and fake news. A notable finding was the rapid increase in online risks propagated by family and friends. By May 2018, the rate of such risks spread by close contacts in India had risen by 9 percentage points to 29%.

Alarming Rise in Online Risks
The survey warns of an upward trend in the dissemination of misinformation and online threats in India. The 2024 Global Risk Report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) identified misinformation and disinformation as major threats to India, surpassing risks like pandemics, economic inequality, and labor shortages.

During India's 2019 elections, platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp were extensively used to spread fake news. These platforms were criticized for being weaponized to disseminate misleading messages.

Public Perception and Misinformation Challenges
A 2019 survey by Statista revealed that 88% of first-time voters in India viewed fake news as a significant problem. The prevalence of misinformation is not new in Indian politics but has become more accessible and far-reaching through print, television, and social media. A substantial portion of Indians relies on social media for news, where the accuracy of information is seldom verified.

India, home to nearly 300 million WhatsApp users, leads the world in forwarded content, making it a hotspot for misinformation. Alarmingly, many Indians blindly trust messages received from family or friends and forward them without verification, accelerating the spread of false information.

Fake News About Bangladesh on the Rise
Indian mainstream media has also been criticized for publishing unverified and false reports about Bangladesh. Leading outlets like Hindustan Times, India Today, and Times of India have been implicated in spreading fake news, particularly after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024.

Example of Misleading Reports

On November 30, 2024, an incident involving a Shyamoli Paribahan bus from Agartala to Dhaka was misreported by Indian media as an "attack." In reality, the bus had an accident involving a delivery van due to emergency braking, and no passengers were injured. However, Indian media and Tripura’s transport minister Sushanta Chowdhury labeled it as an attack in their reports.
Earlier, India Today incorrectly claimed that supporters of Donald Trump were arrested in Bangladesh for corruption and genocide allegations. This misinformation was promptly refuted by the press wing of the Chief Advisor.

Another unverified claim widely circulated was that Bangladesh had banned Indian TV channels. However, fact-checking organization Rumor Scanner confirmed that Indian satellite channels remain operational in Bangladesh, dismissing the claim as baseless.

Misleading Videos
Indian media outlets like Zee News and RT India shared a video claiming that Muslims attacked a Hindu temple during an idol immersion ceremony. Rumor Scanner’s investigation revealed the video was from Sultanpur village in India’s East Bardhaman district, not Bangladesh.

Government Efforts and Challenges
Although the Indian government has initiated measures to combat fake news, these efforts have been largely ineffective. Reports by Business Insider indicate that misinformation continues to grow at an alarming rate, posing significant challenges to societal stability.

India’s widespread misinformation problem underscores the urgent need for robust verification systems and greater public awareness to curb the spread of fake news.

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