Bridging the gaps with Social media: BTRC
One committed suicide after writing a suicidal note. Later it was found that cyber bullying was the reason behind it. However, s/he did not disclose the matter before committing suicide. As a result, nothing could be done in this case. Therefore, experts have suggested not to hide these incidents and share those with the family and to be cautious while surfing the cyber space or use digital devices.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission is working to bridge the gap with the authorities such as global online platforms Facebook, TikTok, etc., so that the crooks do not get a place in the so-called social media.
In this regard, Director General of Systems and Services Department of BTRC, Brigadier General Md. Nasim Parvez said, “We are meeting with them (social media) quarterly. We have substantially reduced the distance with them. We say again and again, we are not successful but we are trying continually. A lot of progress has been made in the last two years.”
He said that in 2021 the rate of sexual harassment through social media was 7.69 percent, posting offensive pictures 5.85 percent, cyber bullying 50.16 percent and in 2022 the rate of sexual harassment through social media was 9.34 percent, offensive messages 6.93 percent and the rate of cyber bullying is 50.27 percent.
As a result of increasing the capacity of dot, there were 1235 requests to remove links from websites/domains in that year, 1235 of which were removed, a removal rate was 100%. In 2022, there were 645 requests to remove links from websites/domains, 645 of them were removed, and the removal rate was 100%.
In a presentation, he highlighted the details of links removed from social media in 2021 and 2022 and said that 8 thousand 916 links were removed from Facebook in 2021 and 8 thousand 228 links were removed in 2022. 1 thousand 13 links were removed from YouTube in 2021 and 222 in 2022. In 2022, 1 thousand 159 links were removed from TikTok, 67 links were removed from Bigo, Likee and Imo in 2022 and 29 links were removed from Twitter. According to the instructions received from the Minister of Telecommunication two months ago to stop gambling sites, betting links and related 14 apps, 17 Facebook, 17 YouTube apps have been closed by carrying out 86 raids.
Nasim Parvez said about the digital social media platform policy under the direction of the high court, “We have finalized the draft after meeting with the stakeholders. According to the Digital Social Media Platform Rules 2021, social media and digital platforms have to register with BTRC. Removal of customer complaints and objectionable content and prompt action on sexual harassment of children and women. Besides, 24 hours helpline should be started.”
These facts were highlighted in the keynote presented at the day-long youth workshop and discussion meeting organized by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and in collaboration with the Cybercrime Awareness Foundation to create awareness about cyber security on Thursday.
Md. Nasim Parvez said that there have been billions of dollars in financial losses due to several cyber-attacks that have been sensational in the world. More than 26,000 pornography websites have already been shut down. We will close more than a thousand websites in the next month. However, online users also need to report for this. Because we will not always find everything.
He urged the relevant authorities of the government to convey this message to BTRC by saying that they are ready to convey it to all the people of the country through small messages to create widespread awareness about cyber security.
In a presentation, he highlighted the details of links removed from social media in 2021 and 2022 and said that 8 thousand 916 links were removed from Facebook in 2021 and 8 thousand 228 links were removed in 2022. 1 thousand 13 links were removed from YouTube in 2021 and 222 in 2022. In 2022, 1 thousand 159 links were removed from TikTok, 67 links were removed from Bigo, Likee and Imo in 2022 and 29 links were removed from Twitter. According to the instructions received from the Minister of Telecommunication two months ago to stop gambling sites, betting links and related 14 apps, 17 Facebook, 17 YouTube apps have been closed by carrying out 86 raids.
Nasim Parvez said about the digital social media platform policy under the direction of the high court, “We have finalized the draft after meeting with the stakeholders. According to the Digital Social Media Platform Rules 2021, social media and digital platforms have to register with BTRC. Removal of customer complaints and objectionable content and prompt action on sexual harassment of children and women. Besides, 24 hours helpline should be started.”
These facts were highlighted in the keynote presented at the day-long youth workshop and discussion meeting organized by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and in collaboration with the Cybercrime Awareness Foundation to create awareness about cyber security on Thursday.
Md. Nasim Parvez said that there have been billions of dollars in financial losses due to several cyber-attacks that have been sensational in the world. More than 26,000 pornography websites have already been shut down. We will close more than a thousand websites in the next month. However, online users also need to report for this. Because we will not always find everything.
He urged the relevant authorities of the government to convey this message to BTRC by saying that they are ready to convey it to all the people of the country through small messages to create widespread awareness about cyber security. 
