Just three months after the enactment of the Cyber Protection Act 2026, the Bangladesh government has announced plans to implement sweeping amendments to the legislation. The proposed revisions, slated for parliamentary approval during the upcoming session, aim to introduce significantly harsher penalties for the dissemination of online rumors and disinformation. This swift move reflects the government’s growing concern over the rapid proliferation of unverified content across social media platforms, which authorities argue poses a direct threat to national stability and individual reputations.
At the heart of the new draft is the introduction of Section 26A, which specifically targets the publication of unsubstantiated rumors and intentional disinformation. Under this provision, individuals found guilty of spreading such content face severe consequences, including up to 10 years of imprisonment and fines reaching Tk40 lakh. Policymakers have defended these stringent measures by highlighting the rising danger of sophisticated artificial intelligence tools, which are increasingly being weaponized to manufacture hyper-realistic fake videos, audio, and images designed to deceive the public and incite discord.
The legislative overhaul also seeks to tighten control over online discourse by modifying Section 25 to criminalize “defamation” and “disparagement.” While standard offenses under this section carry a penalty of up to five years in jail and a Tk20 lakh fine, the law introduces harsher sentencing for content targeting women or minors. In such cases, offenders could face up to 10 years in prison or a Tk40 lakh fine. A senior official from the Home Ministry clarified that the primary objective of these updates is to curb the growing trend of character assassination directed at government officials, political figures, and other professionals.
Enforcement of these new provisions is set to be a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and specialized surveillance bodies, most notably the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC). By leveraging the technical capabilities of these agencies, the government intends to adopt a proactive approach to monitoring and moderating digital content. This centralized oversight structure is expected to facilitate the swifter identification and prosecution of those accused of violating the revised cyber laws.
However, the government’s security-centered rationale has met with immediate and vocal resistance from digital rights advocates and legal experts. Critics, including Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director of the advocacy group Digitally Right, have warned that the language used in the amendments is dangerously ambiguous. Observers fear that the lack of clear definitions regarding what constitutes a “rumor” or “disparagement” could provide a pretext for widespread government overreach, leading to the harassment of dissidents and the stifling of legitimate online discourse.
The proposed amendments have drawn unfavorable comparisons to the controversial Digital Security Act, which was a hallmark of the former Awami League administration’s approach to dissent. Opponents argue that if passed, these changes may further erode Bangladesh’s standing on international indices regarding online freedom and human rights. As the parliamentary session approaches, the discourse highlights a widening divide between the state’s desire for digital regulation and the imperative of protecting fundamental civil liberties in the virtual space.
