Cyber Security Act: Redraft it in light of best int’l practices

Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday called upon members of parliament and the parliamentary committee on posts, telecommunications and information technology ministry to redraft the Cyber Security Bill-2023 in accordance with best international practices.

In a statement, the Bangladesh chapter of the Berlin-based global anti-graft watchdog also urged the lawmakers and members of the parliamentary body to discuss with experts and stakeholders before redrafting the bill.

The bill incorporates repressive elements and the bulk of the provisions from the controversial Digital Security Act-2018, but lacks many important elements required for an international standard cyber security act, TIB said.

There are clauses in the bill that leave scope for authorities to "label" one's dissent voice or freethinking as an offence while it also gives police ample power without proper checks and balances, it added.

TIB said it emailed the authorities concerned a working paper titled "From Digital Security Act-2018 to Draft Cyber Security Act-2023: Comparative Analysis and Recommendations" on Thursday.

There, it urged the ministers, MPs, and the parliamentary body concerned to play a strong role so that the CSA does not become a "weapon" like the DSA to gag freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

In a statement, which came along with the working paper, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the decision to formulate the CSA and repeal the DSA proves the government's realisation of people's concern over the misuse of DSA.

Now, it may logically come to people's mind that elements that led to the decision to repeal the DSA would not be incorporated into the CSA, he said.

The objective of the new law should be to prepare a legal framework to ensure the safety of digital platforms and the opportunity for all to use those platforms freely, he added.

News Courtesy:

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/16-dhanmondi-32-handed-over-police-3677901