SANGSAD BHABAN, June 8, (V7N) — Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government has taken an initiative to amend the Cyber Security Act (CSA) to check rumors, misinformation, and the spread of misleading content, including defamation and misuse of artificial intelligence (AI).
“It is necessary to revise the CSA as the existing act does not cover the arbitrariness of the content being spread on social media by assassinating the character of the country’s important political persons and their family members in the name of freedom of speech,” he said.
The minister said this at the Jatiya Sangsad while responding to a notice of urgent public importance under section 71 of the rules of procedure, brought by ruling party lawmaker Helen Zerin Khan, with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair.
He said the government is working to determine a new definition of ‘cyberspace’ to include all platforms such as social media, virtual media, and online. The drafting of the new cyber security act has already started.
Under the new act, he said, new definitions will be included for rumor, misinformation, defamation, and confusing content. New provisions for punishment to prevent and stop the broadcasting of such defaming content on social media will be inserted in the revised law.
The tendency to prepare insulting, disgusting, and defaming content has increased with the use of artificial intelligence, he said, adding that new provisions will be included to create more coordination with international technological platforms to ensure the quick removal of these harmful contents from social media.
Presently, the minister said, no action is taken at all most of the time when a request is sent for removing harmful content. So, a mandatory option will be added in the proposed law to remove harmful content within a specific timeframe, he added.
Similarly, executive power may be given to other government-approved agencies and authorities, along with law enforcement agencies, to remove and block data and content from social networks.
In this connection, he said it is under consideration to give authority to the National Cyber Security Authority and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
Replying to a supplementary query, the home minister said different international technological agencies, including Meta, many times do not respond to requests sent from Bangladesh as the existing law has no obligation to remove any offensive content from the social network.
Citing an example of neighboring countries, the Home Minister said some neighboring countries have compelled Meta to take necessary action against harmful media content within 24 hours due to their legal framework. So, the new act will include provisions that would compel international platforms to take legal action, he added.
Regarding the Public Gambling Act, 1867, the minister said the act is a colonial-era legislation that prohibits public gambling and the operation of common gaming-houses in South Asia. The act will be modernized by including online and offline gambling and betting, and the new act will be brought in the current session of parliament.
Even the new narcotics control act will be enacted through strengthening and empowering the Narcotics Control Department. Modern laboratories, training facilities, dog squads, and necessary legal capacities will also be ensured in the new proposed act, he told parliament.
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