A legal notice has been sent to Facebook and YouTube to remove fake news and video content that is provocative and creates unrest in public life by mixing truth and lies with old videos.
On Sunday, August 21, 2022, a Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Arafat Hossain Khan sent this notice on behalf of two lawyers. They are: Supreme Court lawyer Nilufar Anjum and Judge Court lawyer Ashraful Islam.
This notice has been sent to 11persons including Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology Secretary; Senior Secretary of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division; Secretary of Home Ministry Security Department; Head of Public Policy Affairs of Facebook and YouTube Bangladesh, Chairman, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC); Director General of Digital Security Agency, Inspector General of Police and others.
The notice said, Facebook and YouTube authorities have failed to monitor and control inflammatory posts online and on social media – which threaten the state sovereignty, security and order in public life. The false information tarnishes the image of the state apparatus which is in violation of Articles 27, 31, 38 and 44 of the Constitution. It also violates the Telecommunication Act of Bangladesh.
The notice also said that Facebook and YouTube have recently been found not to be fully following their surveillance strategies. This is especially happening in Bangladesh. A lot of fake news, content, images and videos are spreading on social media in Bangladesh. Many political figures and intellectuals are being disrespected by this.
Due to this, it has been asked to remove these contents with a notice, otherwise legal action will be taken against those concerned, said the lawyer who sent the notice.