The international human rights organization Article 19, dedicated to promoting freedom of expression and the right to information, has called for meaningful consultations with relevant bodies before the enactment of a Cyber Protection law in Bangladesh.
It claims the draft law in its present form could severely undermine independent journalism, as well as the rights to freedom of expression.
Article 19 says Bangladesh should comply with international human rights standards, particularly those related to freedom of expression; should provide clear definitions for terms like “cyberbullying”, “aiding” and “spreading hate” ensuring they are narrowly tailored to target only harmful, illegal activities like incitement to violence
It also argues that government bodies, including law enforcement, should operate with greater transparency and be subject to independent oversight, and they must integrate robust safeguards to protect privacy and personal data, and have safeguards against mass surveillance, ensuring that cybersecurity measures do not compromise individuals’ fundamental rights.
The draft ordinance has faced harsh criticism in Bangladesh. Journalists, lawyers, teachers, human rights defenders, and activists have severely criticised it, as the proposed law uses many terms that lack clear definitions, creating opportunities for misuse due to their vagueness. Many terms in the law lack clear definitions, creating opportunities for misuse due to ambiguity.
Civil society members have questioned the drafting process, noting the lack of an inclusive and meaningful consultation process. Initially, the interim government allowed only three days for comments on the draft law. Amid widespread criticism, the government has uploaded an amended version of the draft and invited comments.
The newly approved draft is said to retain several provisions from its predecessors, which had been widely criticised for suppressing freedom of expression. Article 19 says the previous Act was frequently used as a tool by the government to suppress dissent, target political opposition, and curtail the activities of journalists, students, and activists.
