CEC Nasir, Australian MP discuss Bangladesh's election preparations, AI misuse concerns
The meeting, held at the Election Commission (EC) office in the capital, lasted for about an hour.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin held a meeting with Australian Minister for International Development Dr Anne Aly today (15 October) to discuss Bangladesh's election preparations and challenges related to the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and misinformation ahead of the upcoming polls.
The meeting, held at the Election Commission (EC) office in the capital, lasted for about an hour.
The four-member Australian delegation included High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle. EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed was also present during the discussions.
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Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Akhtar said the Australian side showed keen interest in Bangladesh's electoral preparations and experiences.
He further said, "A major part of the discussion focused on the misuse of technology and artificial intelligence in the electoral process. We talked about AI intervention, misinformation, abuse of information, and fake content."
"The Australian minister said they also face similar issues," Akhtar noted.
He added that Australia expressed willingness to provide support if opportunities arise. "They said if there is any scope for cooperation, we can let them know," the secretary said.
Both sides agreed to continue exchanging experiences to ensure secure and transparent technology use and fair information flow during elections.
The EC secretary also mentioned that Australia is already involved in a UNDP-supported project titled 'Ballot', which focuses on election management and information integrity. "They said they would consider providing further assistance if needed in the future," he said.
