Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) demanded the cancellation of the regressive provisions of the Digital Security Act and re-amendment the legislation.
The civil society platform also urged the President to send the law back to parliament for review before signing it, according to a press release issued on Saturday.
Shujan said several sections of the law can be misused to harass citizens, gag the media and repress freedom of expression.
“We believe that this law is contrary to fundamental rights. In any civilized and democratic society there may be opinions of people.” “The law will shrink the democratic range of the country, take away citizens' freedom and create insecurity among them,” Shujan said.
It expressed concern that by misusing this law, police can defeat ordinary citizens as this act has the power to search, arrest or seize anyone without a warrant or approval of police. Apart from this, in the case of digital espionage under Article 32 of the Act, the official secrecy act-1923 of the colonial period is likely to create a corruption-friendly environment, the press release said.
During the last six years, using this act the government has forcefully arrested hundreds of people, which was extensively criticized at home and abroad. Before passing the Digital Security Act, different organizations presented various suggestions and claims about the some issues against the freedom of citizens, but the government did not considered them.
On the contrary, the 57 articles of the Information Technology Act, which were cancelled, have been inserted into some of the provisions of the Digital Security Act (25, 28, 29 and 31). That means breaking down law 57, the authority passed the new law replacing some new words and reducing some punishments in the field.