Individuals who record and share videos of others without consent under the guise of being ‘content creators’ will face fast-track trials, with investigations to be completed within 90 days under the Cyber Security Act 2026, Posts and Telecommunications and ICT Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam has said.
He made the remarks in response to a written question during the question-and-answer session in the parliament on Tuesday.
The question was raised by lawmaker Rafiqul Islam Hilali of Netrokona-3, seeking details of measures taken to curb the unauthorized recording and dissemination of videos on social media, often accompanied by sensational captions or used for extortion.
In his reply, the minister said legal measures have already been taken under the Cyber Security Act 2026, which was passed in Parliament on April 10.
Under Section 25(1) of the law, the intentional transmission, publication or threat to publish any content—including videos or images—for purposes such as blackmail, sexual harassment, revenge pornography or sextortion through digital or electronic platforms constitutes a criminal offence.
Penalties
According to Section 25(2), offenders may face up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk10 lakh, or both. if the victim is a woman or a child under the age of 18, the penalty may extend to up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk20 lakh, or both.
Extortion-related offences fall under Section 22 (fraud in cyberspace), carrying penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk50 lakh, or both.
Technological measures
The minister said that under Section 8, the Director General of the National Cyber Security Agency has the authority to order the removal or blocking of harmful content and may request the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to take immediate action.
He added that the National Cyber Emergency Response Team and the National Security Operations Centre will play an active role in detecting and preventing such crimes.
Under Section 35, authorities are empowered to conduct searches, seize digital devices and arrest suspects without a warrant in urgent cases.
Future plans
A National Cyber Security Agency has been established under Sections 5 and 6, with mandatory recruitment of internationally certified experts. The agency will centrally monitor complaints related to unauthorized video recording and dissemination, with plans to gradually expand its manpower and infrastructure.
According to Section 8(3) and (4), approval from a tribunal must be obtained within three days of blocking or removing any content, and details of such actions will be made public to ensure transparency.
Preventive measures
Authorities will deploy cloud-based cybersecurity solutions—including Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and Extended Detection and Response (XDR)—to identify harmful content in real time.
The minister also noted that by connecting to global threat intelligence networks, cross-border cybercrimes can be detected through international data and log sharing.
Strengthening investigation capacity
Digital forensic laboratories will be established under Sections 10 and 11 to collect and analyse digital evidence in line with international standards, enabling swift identification of video sources, individuals and devices.
Investigations must be completed within 90 days under Section 32 to ensure timely trials.
International cooperation
Under Section 48, offences committed from abroad will be addressed through mutual legal assistance under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2012.
The law will also apply to offences committed outside Bangladesh against its citizens, as per Section 4(2).