The government is considering bringing action against those spreading rumours and disinformation on social media under the Cyber Security Act, Telecoms Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam has said.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Anam said the government was reviewing the issue for inclusion in the law.
Mahbub said the government had already taken different legal, technological and institutional measures to prevent disinformation, rumours and misleading content spread through fake social media accounts.
He said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) regularly engages with platforms including Facebook, YouTube and TikTok to seek the removal of harmful, fake and rumour-based content.
The minister also said authorities were strengthening the technological capabilities of law-enforcing agencies to identify fake accounts, investigate cybercrime and track those involved in disinformation campaigns.
According to him, the government continues efforts to combat disinformation and unethical online practices by improving the legal framework, enhancing technological capacity, cooperating with digital platforms and raising public awareness to ensure a safe and responsible digital environment.
BTRC Lacks Its Own Blocking Technology
Responding to a question from Jamaat-e-Islami MP Md Golam Rasul of Jashore-4, Mahbub said BTRC directs relevant organisations, institutions or operators to remove or block objectionable content or websites upon requests from the National Cyber Security Agency, law-enforcing bodies or intelligence agencies under the Cyber Security Act.
However, he said the BTRC does not possess its own technology or equipment to carry out such blocking.
The minister added that BTRC and Bangladesh Bank are procuring modern equipment to verify mobile financial service user registrations and prevent mobile banking fraud.
He also said facial-recognition-based verification for mobile SIM registration is being introduced on a pilot basis.
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