Chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday urged experts to provide practical and evidence-based recommendations to combat artificial intelligence-related misinformation ahead of the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad elections.
The misuse of AI, he said, has become a global concern. He emphasised the need for a 24-hour monitoring mechanism.
鈥楢I misuse is now a global headache. Like any tool, it can be used for both good and bad purposes 鈥� a doctor may use it to save lives, while a criminal may use it to commit crimes,鈥� the CEC said at a seminar at the Election Training Institute at Agargaon, Dhaka.
The seminar titled 鈥業ntegration of Artificial Intelligence in Upcoming National Parliament Election to Counter Misinformation and Disinformation,鈥� was organised by two Election Commission projects.聽聽
The CEC and four other election commissioners attended the event.
Nasir Uddin said that the Election Commission was taking steps to integrate AI technology into its system to prevent its misuse and ensure greater transparency in the electoral process.
He said that the system should be capable of detecting and addressing false or misleading information at any hour of the day or night.
鈥楾his will be a round-the-clock effort,鈥� he said, adding that the EC must determine the type of professionals to be involved, the speed of verification, and the agencies to assist in the process.
He also called for concrete proposals for the structure and staffing of the information verification cell, including the number of personnel required per shift, their qualifications, and coordination methods to be needed.
Highlighting the challenge of addressing misinformation from remote or hard-to-reach areas such as hilly or island regions, the CEC stressed the importance of strong connectivity with the central monitoring cell.
鈥榃e don鈥檛 only need policy guidelines; we need realistic plans鈥攚ho will work, how many people will be needed, and how information will be gathered from remote areas,鈥� he said.
The CEC hoped that the workshop would produce effective recommendations to help ensure fair and credible 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections.
Election Commission senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed said that AI was influencing lives in both positive and negative ways and often spreading misinformation that disrupted operations.
He said that around 92 per cent of the elections globally had faced questions due to AI-related misinformation, urging all stakeholders to cooperate in preventing the misuse of the technology to ensure participatory and fair elections.
