Bangladesh
TIB calls for full revision of Cyber Security Bill.

TIB calls for full revision of Cyber Security Bill

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TIB calls for full revision of Cyber Security Bill

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Bangladesh

Transparency International Bangladesh issued a statement on Friday asking for a complete revision of the ‘Draft Cyber Security Bill 2023’ through consultations with stakeholders.

In the statement, the TIB urged all lawmakers and the parliamentary standing committee on post, telecommunication, and information technology, which made the draft, to act critically to prevent the bill from becoming a tool to suppress freedom of press, thought, conscience and speech.

In the statement, TIB executive director Iftekhar Zaman said the bill proposes to vest unlimited power with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to remove data and information, and also does not provide clear and specific definitions of many issues, just as the Digital Security Act 2018. The draft also has a risky provision under which law enforcement agencies are empowered to take punitive measures based on speculation.

Harmful content needs to be removed, but within a limited scope and should be consistent with the Constitution of Bangladesh, International Human Rights Laws and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the statement reads.

It also raised concern as various clauses of the proposed draft allowed authorities to treat freedom of expression, dissent, thought and conscience and freedom of press as crimes according to their will.

On September 5, the government tabled the draft bill in Jatiya Sangsad, drawing criticisms at home and abroad, as most of the provisions from the DSA 2018 were retained with some mere changes in the new proposed act.

Earlier on August 7, the cabinet approved the bill to replace the Digital Security Act 2018 as its frequent abuse drew widespread protests and criticisms.

Although the bill would repeal the DSA 2018, the cases filed under it will continue.