The Bangladesh government has officially made ‘cyberbullying’ a crime for the first time. This was included in the new ‘Cybersecurity Ordinance 2024.’
During a media briefing on Tuesday (December 24) at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor, explained that the government aims to make cyberspace safe for everyone. He mentioned that women and children are often victims of cyberbullying and that the government is responsible for keeping cyberspace safe. In this regard, the new ordinance has been approved.
He also said, “The ordinance will protect the public while ensuring media freedom. It will not interfere with the freedom of the press.”
Regarding the previous cyber security laws, he said, “The former government used the old Cybersecurity Act to silence opposing views and create fear. Now, the ‘Cybersecurity Ordinance 2024’ has replaced it.”
ICT Policy Advisor Faiz Taeyeb Ahmed added that the new law is well-designed and forward-thinking. It will help victims of cyberbullying get compensation and make it easier for them to inform the court. The new law reduces penalties and ensures that most provisions are bailable.
The new ordinance will tackle cyberbullying, which involves threatening, harassing, or spreading harmful information about someone on social media, messaging platforms, websites, or cyberspace. This includes spreading lies, offensive messages, rumors, or damaging content that harms someone’s reputation or mental health.
Source: The Daily Campus
