BTRC Flags Meta Delays Over Violent Facebook Content
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has formally expressed concern to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, alleging that delays in removing and blocking violent content published on the platform contributed to the outbreak of violence in the country following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi.
In an urgent email sent on Friday, December 19, BTRC accused Facebook of being used to spread “large-scale violence, intimidation, and calls to disrupt the upcoming election,” and urged the platform to take immediate action against violent and inciting content.
Referring to violent incidents that occurred on the night of Thursday, December 18, the regulator called on Meta to take emergency measures to prevent the misuse of its platforms to destabilize social order amid the country’s ongoing political unrest. The letter described the matter as one of “national importance,” noting that the upcoming election is “deeply intertwined with citizens’ lives, democratic rights, minority security, and long-term stability.”
The letter, sent to Facebook’s designated representatives and senior Meta officials, stated that Bangladesh is passing through a critical phase marked by violence in the aftermath of the mass uprising. According to BTRC, the country is undergoing a fragile political transition, with the interim government attempting to restore order and prepare for a credible national election.
Citing recent developments, BTRC said the killing of Osman Hadi—one of the frontline organizers of the July uprising—was followed by the circulation of various online contents that further deteriorated the situation on the ground. Media organizations were also attacked during this period.
“Most concerning is that, under the guise of freedom of expression, some individuals openly supported the killing while others publicly called for violence against media organizations and journalists,” the letter said.
BTRC noted that these actions directly preceded acts of vandalism and arson at several establishments, including two media outlets—The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. The attacks, it said, created widespread fear and posed a serious threat to press freedom.
The regulator further alleged that the amount of time Meta takes to remove or block violent content “creates opportunities for further violence and mass mobilization through those accounts.”
Warning that the unchecked spread of violent material poses a direct threat to national stability, social harmony, media freedom, and the lives and safety of minority communities, BTRC stressed that Meta’s role is not merely technical but also one of public responsibility.
Pointing out that Meta has no local office in Bangladesh, BTRC said multiple urgent requests sent through formal channels did not receive timely responses, even as violent content continued to circulate widely.
In the letter, the commission urged Meta to take several steps, including enforcing community standards more strictly, swiftly, and contextually for Bangladeshi content; strengthening Bangla-language moderation; and ensuring immediate action upon receiving reports of violence-inciting material.
BTRC also called on Meta to maintain heightened monitoring of content related to Bangladesh until the completion of the national election scheduled for February 2026.
DBTech/IH/OR
