The approved draft of the proposed Cybersecurity Ordinance has omitted provisions related to cyberbullying.
Following consultations with stakeholders, the draft will be submitted to the Advisory Council for final approval within a week.
These updates were shared on Wednesday, at a press conference held by the ICT Division.
ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury stated that the draft was shaped through extensive discussions and further revised based on feedback from organizations like TIB, media outlets, and civil society stakeholders.
He emphasized that stakeholder input prompted significant changes to the draft.
The secretary assured that the ordinance aims to prevent misuse and negative consequences.
The draft is already available online for public opinion, and it will undergo additional discussions before being sent for final approval. He estimated that the finalization process could take at least six weeks.
ICT Division Policy Adviser Faiz Ahmed acknowledged that public criticism led to the removal of cyberbullying provisions.
He noted that feedback from media reports, public observations, and expert opinions significantly influenced the revisions.
Faiz Ahmed also pointed out that the ordinance is designed to protect individuals and institutions, with no intent from the government to enact repressive laws.
He cautioned that any law could be misused in the absence of political stability and a civilized culture.
He further revealed that nine contentious sections of the cybersecurity law have been dropped. As a result, cases filed under these sections will be nullified, potentially dismissing 90–95% of the existing cases.