Digital Defense Takes Priority Over Borders, Says Information Minister
Ensuring digital security has become more important than even border security in today’s world, according to Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan. He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a roundtable discussion titled “Combating Fake News in Bangladesh: Policy, Technology and Accountability” held at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital.
The minister said that as the world rapidly transitions toward a knowledge- and innovation-driven society, the government is placing the highest priority on digital security to safeguard the country’s overall interests and stability.
The policy dialogue was organized by Nationalist ICT Forum. During his speech, the minister noted that Bangladesh has long been discussing the challenges posed by fake news and misleading information. However, he emphasized that the time has come to move beyond merely identifying the problem and instead focus on implementing effective technological and legal solutions to address it.
Addressing ICT professionals and media practitioners, he urged them to present practical, technology-driven solutions to the government rather than only highlighting problems, so that such measures can be implemented promptly in the national interest.
The keynote paper at the event was presented by Imtiaz Mirza, Vice President of NICTF.
Moderated by Riyad Hasnain, Chief Executive Officer of Smart Lab, the open discussion featured media and technology experts who highlighted the commercialization of misinformation.
Speaking at the event, Rakib Hasan, editor of the Fake News Scanner program on Ekattor TV, said that rumors and misinformation have evolved into a planned commercial activity in Bangladesh. According to him, some actors deliberately create narratives on social media to attract followers and later monetize or sell those platforms for financial gain.
To counter the growing threat, Abbas Uddin Nayan, Chief Reporter of The Business Standard, stressed the need for every media organization to establish an independent fact-checking unit to verify information before publication.
The roundtable was chaired by Rafel Kabir, President of NICTF. Special guests included AKM Wahiduzzaman, Information and Technology Affairs Secretary of the BNP; Md. Riazul Islam, Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha; and former Member of Parliament Shahrin Islam Tuhin.
Among other participants were Dr. Shah J. Mia of the University of Newcastle Business School and Dr. Maruf Mallik, Advisor to NICTF. Representatives from the media, ICT sector, and policymaking institutions also called for the integrated use of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies to combat fake news and misinformation more effectively.
//DBTech/MS/EK/OR//
