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Published : 08 Jun 2026, 08:26 PM
The government has moved to amend the Cyber Security Act to tackle the spread of rumours, misinformation, defamatory content and AI-generated misleading images, videos and audio on social media platforms, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has told Parliament.
On Monday, he said provisions will also be introduced to compel international technology platforms, including Meta -- the parent company of Facebook -- to remove harmful content within a fixed timeframe.
The government is looking to introduce a 24-hour takedown requirement for such platforms.
Salahuddin was speaking in parliament during a Rule 71 discussion on an urgent public importance notice moved by reserved seat lawmaker Helen Zerin Khan.
Helen had raised concerns over fake social media identities, bot networks, AI-generated fake content, online harassment of women and children, and organised campaigns of misinformation against political figures.
She said numerous accounts and pages are being operated under false identities on Facebook, while coordinated bot networks are attempting to manipulate public opinion artificially.
In response, the minister said content is being circulated on social media targeting the head of government, her spouse and daughter, as well as political leaders and the families of prominent public figures.
“Under the guise of freedom of expression, content is being published on social media -- whether it truly falls under freedom of expression needs to be redefined,” he said.
Salahuddin said the definition of cyberspace is being revised, and social media and virtual media platforms will be brought under legal coverage.
“I started drafting a legal reform this morning itself. I did not know this question would come up today,” he said.
He added that a draft revision of the Cyber Security Act is being prepared to prevent the spread of rumours and misinformation in cyberspace, as well as misleading, insulting and defamatory content created and circulated using artificial intelligence.
“The law will be notified as the Cyber Security Act, 2026. Certain provisions will be amended,” he said.
The minister said rumours, misinformation and defamatory content will be newly defined, and new punitive provisions will be introduced to curb their dissemination.
In a supplementary question, Helen asked what steps the government would take to ensure effective communication with international social media authorities such as Meta.
In reply, Salahuddin Ahmed said Bangladesh currently lacks legal provisions that compel Meta to remove content within a fixed timeframe.
“In neighbouring countries, legal safeguards exist that compel Meta to act within 24 hours. But our BTRC and cyber laws do not have such provisions,” he said.
He added that even when the BTRC or other authorities request action, responses are often delayed.
“They say your legal framework is not strong enough. Without legal backing, pressure cannot be exerted,” he said.
He said the revised law will include provisions for coordination with international technology platforms, time-bound content removal, and an accountable mechanism for removing reported content.
He also said law-enforcing agencies, the cybersecurity authority, and BTRC, along with other empowered bodies, will be authorised to remove, block, or restrict such content.
The minister said the government is still operating under a 1867-era law to combat gambling, and a new law is being introduced to address online gambling, offline gambling and digitally facilitated offences.
“The Gambling Prevention Act is in its final stage. We hope to place it in this parliamentary session,” he said.
He also spoke about amendments to the Narcotics Control Act, saying law-enforcing officers conducting anti-drug operations often lack adequate weapons, training, laboratory facilities and dog squads, while drug traffickers are sometimes armed with modern weapons.
“We will bring legal proposals to make the Department of Narcotics Control a fully self-sufficient organisation,” he said.
