New Cyber Law to Prevent Abuse

The government will formulate the new cyber protection law in a way that prevents its future misuse to silence or persecute the media or individuals, Information and Broadcasting Minister Barrister Andalib Rahman Partha said. He said past experience showed that laws, including the Digital Security Act, had been used to curtail press freedom. The government does not want to leave similar scope for abuse in the new legislation.

September 10, Thursday, he made the remarks at a consultation meeting held at the conference room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the Secretariat from 10:00am to seek views and recommendations from media stakeholders on the draft Cyber Protection Amendment Act, 2026. Ministers from relevant ministries, journalists and media representatives attended the meeting.

Saying discussions on the draft law are still at an initial stage, Andalib Rahman Partha said the government is carefully examining how to ensure that a law created for one purpose cannot later be used for another. He noted that some words could have multiple meanings. Therefore, the government is working cautiously to prevent future misuse through interpretation of any word or provision of the law.

The minister said some laws, including the Digital Security Act, had been used over the past 17 to 20 years to suppress or intimidate the media. They do not want a repetition of that experience.

“We do not want any law that curtails media freedom. There will be no attempt to silence anyone,” he said.

Harmful Social Media Content Discussed
The minister said another key objective of the new Cyber Protection Act is to prevent activities that undermine public morality on social media and ensure a safer online environment.

He said abusive language, obscene expressions and insulting remarks have increased on platforms including Facebook in the name of democracy and freedom of expression. Discussions are underway on how such activities can be brought under the law while protecting freedom of expression and media freedom.

Andalib Rahman Partha said the government is carefully considering how to bring socially harmful activities on social media under the law without creating any conflict with freedom of expression.

He said the law is in no way being drafted to silence or persecute anyone. The drafting and consultation process is taking into account the need to prevent a recurrence of problems seen in the past use of laws.

Initiative to Address Rumours and Defamatory Content
The meeting also discussed ways to stop personal rumours and misleading content, the minister said. He said opinions are being sought from relevant stakeholders on how such content can be controlled and how an effective law can be formulated.

He also warned against the tendency to share social media content without verifying it. He stressed the need to raise public awareness about the potential consequences of publishing or republishing defamatory statements.

The minister said a social awareness programme would be launched alongside the legislation. The programme would involve discussions with people from different professions and sections of society, including the media.

He said the law must be designed so that there is no scope for future misuse, while also ensuring that it does not create concerns over damage to people’s reputation or restrictions on freedom of expression.

Government Concern Over Harmful Content
Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said the meeting began at 10:00am and was attended by ministers from five ministries and media representatives. Although various issues were discussed with the participants, no major or final decision has yet been made. The meeting primarily sought opinions on how the law should be formulated.

He said the government is concerned about various types of content published on cyber platforms such as Meta and YouTube. Such content is creating various problems for individuals and families. He also noted that some incidents of suicide have occurred under the influence of such content.

Fakir Mahbub Anam said the government is working seriously on ways to control socially harmful content. He stressed that opinions from all relevant stakeholders should be considered before enacting the law and said further discussions would therefore be held.

He said the committee’s next meeting will be held on September 28 at 11:00am, when the Cyber Protection Act will be discussed in greater detail.

Media Stakeholders’ Views Sought
Editors, journalists and prominent individuals shared their views on various provisions of the draft law at the meeting. They offered recommendations on ensuring cybersecurity while protecting media freedom and the right to freedom of expression.

The information minister said further discussions would be held with media representatives on the draft legislation and their views would also be sought at subsequent stages.

He said one of the government’s key objectives is to ensure that the interpretation of any word or provision does not create an opportunity for future persecution of the media or any individual or for misuse of the law.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman, Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaid and officials from relevant ministries attended the meeting.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaid said a Cyber Protection Act is necessary to protect people from the negative activities currently taking place on the internet and social media. On the prime minister’s instructions, a committee comprising the ministries of information and communication technology, foreign affairs, home affairs, information and law has been formed for this purpose. The committee aims to formulate a timely and effective law after taking the views of all relevant stakeholders.
//DBTech/FNS/SME/FOET//