Desk Report

Hello and welcome to BBC International News. Let's take a look at today's headlines, started by Hugh Edwards, who presented the BBC's News at Ten until his death last June. He is a familiar face to many. But here a new phenomenon has arisen, he is now speaking in Bengali.

This is not an isolated incident. There are countless fake channels across YouTube that are completely imitating international news outlets with logos, news anchors and even background music.

YouTube's policy against impersonators has been challenged. The platform is hosting these channels without verification. On the contrary, these fake channels are getting even the much-awaited 'verified badge'. Advertisements are also running on these channels. Which means they are also bringing profit to these platforms along with its unscrupulous content creators

Various channels are running on YouTube using the names and logos of domestic and foreign renowned channels. The data of 58 such fake channels was obtained by the independent, neutral and non-political online verification and media research platform DismissLab. The research institute said that various distorted information is disseminated on these channels, as a result of which the common people are getting confused.

Hundreds of content have been uploaded in Bengali on these channels established on the model of influential international media BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera. Any of which has more than one million (1 million) subscribers.

But here is the magnet part. An analysis of 14 fake channels showed that video thumbnails spread false and misleading information that misled viewers and violated YouTube's policies.

Editors of various media outlets have warned that these fake channels are not only diverting viewers from objective news, but also blurring the dividing line between fact and fiction. And many are losing faith in objective reporting.

Dozens of 'fake BBCs' on YouTube

According to this survey, BBC has the highest number of copycat channels on YouTube. At least 37 fake and fake channels of this British state media are serving news in Birdarpur. The channels have an average of 54 thousand subscribers. The largest of these has the verified status of International News with a subscriber base of one million or one million.

Six channels produce videos exactly like the BBC's content. Along with its studio aesthetic, graphics and news anchor broadcast content. Where the popular news anchor Huw Edwards is speaking, but fluently in Bengali.

Notable fake channels impersonating the BBC include BBC World Live, BBC News 24, BBC World TV, BBC World Desk, and BBC News Bangla (BBC News Bangla).

Each channel not only used the BBC name, but also used the British media logo in their branding, profile. However, the BBC's terms of service strictly prohibit imitation of its services. It also prohibits the use of its brand, trademark or logo without permission. However, ignoring these terms and conditions, fake YouTube channels are imitating famous and influential media.

Some channels flout these restrictions by changing the BBC name slightly. They created their logos as BAC World News, DBC World News, BDC World News, ABC Bangla News, ABC International News and ABC World News. After that, these channels are completely similar to the logo and branding of the BBC.

At least seven such fake channels like the BBC have added a 'gray tick' symbol to their profile picture, which means they have been verified by the YouTube platform.

Asked about this, the BBC's press office responded by email. Their legal team (legal department) has previously taken action against accounts that are active on the website or social media. YouTube channels, which operate under the guise of BBC or BBC News Bangla, have not been left out. Later, the inactivity of disguised channels started again.

Fake channels like CNN and other media

YouTube has several channels modeled after the US-based cable news network (CNN). that use CNN's logo and branding. These include CNN Bangla 24 and CNN Bangladesh, who regularly upload videos.
In 2022, CNN authorities filed a case against an IPTV named 'CNN Bangla TV News'. Such measures are taken precisely for the crime of using their logo. Despite an interim ban on the use of such logo after the preliminary hearing, the fake channel is still active on CNN Bangla TV's website and Facebook page.

The fake channels are presenting news by adding words like 'Bangla' or 'World News' to the names of Qatar-based media Al Jazeera, US-based ABC and UK-based Reuters. But their subscribers are much less than 'fake BBC'.

A channel called Samam BD 24 News is disguised as Samam Television, a Bangladeshi news media. Its profile and cover images have logos in the form of time. The fake channel has more than 90 thousand subscribers.

This channel often uploads videos with fake titles and spreads misleading information through thumbnails. Two YouTube channels have been found on the model of Ekatar and Yamuna Television. In this regard, Talat Mamun, executive director of private television channel 24, said that although he was initially confused about getting content with their (Channel 24) logo on YouTube, he later realized that the content (news) is fabricated and fake.
He also said, 'In a very sensitive time, news has spread through social media with our logo. It is very worrying.'

Despite the policies, violations are rampant

YouTube's 'anti-impersonation policy' strictly prohibits the promotion of content impersonating media or individuals. As per the policy, if a channel or its content creates confusion about the source of the advertised products and services, it may be cancelled. This includes channels that impersonate someone else's profile, background or general atmosphere for fraud and profit.

Clearly referring to these channels, it has been stated in YouTube's guidelines that no content can be created in imitation of existing news-based channels. Violation of this policy may result in permanent account termination. But the fact is, all the mentioned channels are clearly violating the impersonation policy.

The channels found in this survey, by directly using the BBC name or logo, are clearly masquerading as a legitimate media outlet. Even those who change just one letter show a clear intention to imitate the BBC.

Similarly, fake channels impersonating Jamuna Television, CNN and Al Jazeera have also violated the policy, yet YouTube has failed to identify them or take effective action against them.

DismissLab sent all the links to fake BBC YouTube channels to Kamal Ahmed, a senior journalist and former editor of BBC Bengal. In this regard, Kamal Ahmed said, "They are trying to use the BBC's brand value unethically and shamefully for their own benefit." It is quite alarming that YouTube, the global platform, is allowing these unscrupulous individuals to abuse the identity of a reputable media outlet. This is being done not only to spread misinformation but also to gain financially.”

Talat Mamun said, "I too have suffered (due to fake channels)." If any of your (business) products are counterfeited, you are at risk. This is similar damage. It is ineffective in the sense that the authorities supposed to act in controlling it. Even YouTube's own mechanism (approach) to detect and eliminate them is not working.

Spread falsehoods in thumbnails

Not only impersonation, fake channels are also violating YouTube's thumbnail policy. The policy states that thumbnails cannot be used in a way that misleads viewers, causing them to lose confidence, that the image shown in the thumbnail is not actually in the video.

The study analyzed 12 recent videos from 14 active channels (each with more than 1,000 subscribers) mimicking the BBC. In each of these 168 videos, the information or images presented in the thumbnails are inconsistent with the content of the respective video.

Most of these channels produce content on international issues, especially religious sentiments and war-centric content. But their thumbnail sentences are often false and sometimes absurd.

For example, 'International News', a channel with over 1 million subscribers, claimed in a thumbnail of a video posted on March 8 that 'Finland is going to war against Israel'.

However, the truth of such information was not found after watching the video. Likewise, thumbnails with misleading headlines such as 'China begins all-out war with India', 'Israeli capital destroyed' or '90-tonne nuclear attack overnight'. Some of the thumbnails include images of warplanes, missiles and bombings, as well as world leaders such as Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin.

Since the Israeli offensive on Gaza began in October 2023, almost every channel has a confusing thumbnail of most of the videos uploaded in the last five months. These thumbnails include hateful content such as 'Israel will be destroyed in 48 hours', 'Jewish soldiers are fleeing for their lives', 'Netanyahu is dead', or 'Israeli soldiers captured and killed' or '6 million Jews killed'. has been spread.

A picture of the online popularity of the Israeli-Palestinian issue is evident on the channel 'BBC World TV'. 165 videos have been uploaded so far, each with the title 'Israel-Palestine War' and thumbnails of various false reports of Israel's defeat. Notably, the channel managed to amass over 10,000 subscribers within just two months of its launch.

Two channels (BBC News BD, BBC News 24) covering Bangladesh-related topics have false information presented in their thumbnails. For example, the thumbnails read, 'Obaidul Quader has no hope of survival' or 'Tareek Zia attacked in London' while showing footage of irrelevant incidents.

A thumbnail of a video posted after Bangladesh's parliamentary elections on January 7, 2024, falsely claimed that the army had announced re-election, although no such announcement was made.

In this regard, senior journalist Talat Mamun said, "People in our country do not have much understanding of media." We don't scrutinize what we see and who we see; Then maybe at some point we start believing it to be true. When people see such fake channels sharing false and misleading information, their trust in the objectivity of all media can be eroded. The violence of these media poses a difficult challenge to the masses to find the truth from the falsehood and distinguish it from the lie.

Questionable view-batting and monetization systems

Looking at the videos of the 14 active channels under BBC disguise, 13 of them did not give their videos a distinct title. Instead each video used the same title. Only the date is changed to match the day of upload For example, Today's International News 20 November 2023, BBC News International News, International News Now World, Jamuna I-Desk are some of the channels.

Azad Baig, Digital Growth Editor of the English daily Daily Star shed light on what kind of intention the channels have behind such a title. He says, 'They are a means of attracting viewers, as Google/YouTube often prioritize content with a recent date in the title.' He calls these 'view-bytes'. Primarily intended to confuse the audience.