Government to form legal panel to tackle misinformation, cyberbullying

The move will offer legal support to victims of fake content and online harassment

The government has moved to form a panel of lawyers to tackle misinformation and cyberbullying, Prime Minister's Information Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman said.

He said it was “deeply concerned about misinformation and the growing incidence of cyberbullying, particularly against women, which leaves many at serious risk”.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Zahed said the Ministry of Information had begun work on forming a legal panel to deal with such offences and that a gazette notification would be issued soon.

Calling the move bad news for those involved in such activities, he said the state and the government were preparing to take the matter seriously and urged offenders to be cautious.

The advisor said abuse and injustice were being committed in the name of information and that anyone could become a victim of misinformation, cyberbullying, fake images or fabricated videos.

According to him, the legal panel would provide support for people affected by such crimes.

At the briefing, organised to mark the government's five months in office, Zahed said: "The Digital Act was grossly misused in the past. This is neither a mafia government nor an unelected one.

“As a democratically elected government, we will not misuse any law."