Bangladesh Government Targets Online Disinformation Under Cyber Law

The Bangladesh government is considering legal action against individuals spreading disinformation on social media as part of the Cyber Security Act, according to Telecoms Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam. The government is reviewing the inclusion of these measures in the law to combat misleading content from fake accounts. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is actively working with platforms like YouTube and TikTok to remove harmful content. Additionally, the government is enhancing law enforcement's technological capabilities to track disinformation campaigns. BTRC currently lacks its own technology for blocking content but is procuring modern equipment to verify mobile financial service registrations and prevent fraud. The introduction of facial-recognition technology for mobile SIM registration is also being piloted.

Key Points: • Bangladesh government plans to include disinformation measures in Cyber Security Act. • BTRC collaborates with social media platforms to remove harmful content. • Authorities are enhancing tech capabilities to combat online disinformation.