BTRC initiating to open an independent hotline for cyber services
Based on the opinions given by the victims in the cyber space, the Cyber Crime Awareness Foundation (CCAF), a voluntary organization of this sector, released the Bangladesh Cyber Crime Propensity-2023 report at the Dhaka Reports Unity Auditorium on Saturday. Speaking at the report release ceremony, the BTRC Director General Brigadier General Nasim Parvez said that BTRC has already taken the initiative to set up a hotline to raise awareness about cyber crime.
Cybercrimes got new forms; bullying has been reduced; Children are at risk
This report, published as the fifth and twelfth in a row, says that the level of new types of crime has increased in the country recently. The report presents statistical observations for the period of March 2015-2023 in several graphs. Analysis of the data in 11 tabs shows that the level of 'other' crime is gradually increasing. It appears that in the 2022 report where other crimes were 1.81%. In 2023, it increased from 281.76% to 6.91% in the report. These crimes include various levels of fraud. These scams are through false promises of jobs and apps.
However, as always, the online social media has become a paradise for crime, but the incidence of cyberbullying related crimes (online and phone messaging, pornography, social media abuse and photo manipulation) has been relatively lowered down in the last five years. Such crimes were recorded at 52.21% in 2022, which was 59.90% in 2017.
Incidents of ID hacking, including social media, have also been decreased consistently, but financial fraud has not stopped. In 2022, 14.64% of victims were victims of fraud while purchasing products online. On the other hand, 25.18% of the victims of social media ID hacking happened for women. Still, the rate of complaints to the law enforcement agencies is decreasing day by day. In five surveys since 2018, the number of cybercrime victims reported to law enforcement is alarming. According to the data obtained from the survey, the number of complainants among the victims is decreasing day by day. In the 2018 survey, where the percentage of complainants was 61%, it has decreased to 20.83% in 2023.
Also, 14.82% of victims in the 2023 survey were under 18 years of age, which is 140.87% more than the 2018 survey. Among them, children are the most (more than 2%) vulnerable victims of propaganda through Facebook and other social media. Among victims of age-specific crime types, young people (18-30 years) are the highest (more than 12%) victims of similar crimes.
According to CCAF's report, 7% of victims in the latest survey were between 18 and 30 years old. This age group has the highest number of victims since the 2018 survey and most of them are victims of fake accounts and ID hacking on social media.
Swarna Saha, a member of the Research Council, presented the report at the event which was presided over by Kazi Mustafiz, the president of the organization.
CCAS Executive Member Khaleda Akhtar Laboni discussed the report moderated by - Internet Service Providers Association-ISPAB General Secretary Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan, BTRC Director General Systems and Services Brigadier General Md. Nasim Parvez, Associate Professor of Anthropology Department of Dhaka University DR. Rasheda Rawonak Khan, National Committee on Cyber Security Awareness, Member Engineer, Bangladesh. Mushfiqur Rahman and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) Research Officer Nahian Reza Sabriet. Mohammad Saiful Alam Khan, Project Director of BGD e- GoOV CIRT Department of Information and Communication Technology participated in the discussion through video message.
Citing the report in the discussion, the speakers expressed concern as the rate of child victims on the internet is gradually increasing. Their expectation is that Smart Bangladesh announced by the government will be realized by taking proactive measures to protect the digital infrastructure and protect the citizens, businesses and national interest by taking the growing cyber crime situation seriously. For this reason, the discussants expressed solidarity in this movement by applauding the initiative taken by CCAF to build a national safe cyber culture through the development of citizen's habits and behavior in using technology by creating comprehensive public awareness. Cyberspace is now showing state capabilities.
Awareness should be developed in multi-stake community approach
In his speech, Nahian Reza Sabriet said that awareness activities are strengthened through research. Numerical research is recognized internationally. He suggested revealing the area, profession, and location etc. of the participants in the survey. At the same time calling for their stories to be brought up, he commented that the rate of children and youth among the victims is not negligible at all. Said, awareness should be developed in multi-stake community approach.
Engineer Md. Mushfiqur Rahman, Member of National Committee on Cyber Security Awareness of Bangladesh said, “We use technology from unknown places, not made by ourselves. Moreover, the entire cyber world is full of fog. In the meantime ChatGPT has come which write poems like those by poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. So for the sake of security, we have to create our own solutions. At the same time, he demanded to audit them for digital forensic investigation and to focus the campaign on the criminals rather than the victims.
Devices are tools of entertainment, again it is dangerous
Analyzing the report, Associate Professor of Anthropology Department of Dhaka University Dr. Rasheda Rawonak Khan said, ‘The rate of non-assistance of the police among the victims is dangerous. She criticized the procedural complexity of presenting evidence of the victims. She said, family, social and state life should be openly discussed in the cyber world. Awareness should be created. Otherwise, the number of child victims will increase. We need to understand that devices are on the one hand as a tool of entertainment; On the other hand, it is dangerous. Because it is tearing us apart, as evidenced by the suicide of a student from BUET and RUET last Wednesday. Therefore, the state should play a more leading role as well as strengthen social bonds.
BTRC opens cyber security hotline
This type of report increases our sense of responsibility and work urgency, said BTRC Director General of Systems and Services Brigadier General Md. Nasim Parvez. He said, we have already instructed ISPs to use parental controls and mobile operators to ensure cyber defense. At the same time, we are soon going to set up a specialized call center for cyber security. But in the meantime, 13219 call centers have been set up on cyber awareness among teenagers. This is how a multi-stakeholder approach should work to combat cybercrime. Neighborhood clubs should be included in this awareness. We expect very positive journalism here.
Demand to force Google, Facebook to set up data center in Bangladesh
Internet Service Providers Association-ISPAB General Secretary Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan urged BTRC to force Google-Facebook to set up their own data centers in Bangladesh, calling for strict action to prevent content that we cannot control from entering the country. He said, 2700 ISPs are being attacked by DDoS. Cyber threat has become very dangerous for future. We are behind in technology. The policy also has limitations. It is only when we cross this limitation that we are attacked. At the time of bandwidth access, the state itself needs to ensure whether it is secure or not.
