Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman has said the drafting process and proposal of the Cyber Security Act (CSA) are controversial, stating if the CSA as it is now is implemented, it will be another oppressive law similar to the Digital Security Act, which it aims to replace.
He made the remarks at a press conference at Midas Centre in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, on Wednesday.
"The draft was approved without taking opinions [from stakeholders] in just 14 days. While the draft reduces the severity of punishment in certain instances, fundamental concerns and penalties remain. Additionally, the basic right of individuals to have freedom of speech is still being limited," he added.
Iftekharuzzaman said: "This law was drafted by changing some of the punishments in the previous Digital Security Act. It relies heavily on copying and pasting. We must move beyond this copying approach. The draft should be completely reworked.”
“Even though there is an existing law in the country to deal with actions like sharing personal information and committing defamation, this new law appears unnecessary for such matters. The Digital Security Act does not seem suitable for these scenarios,” he added.
He said to reporters: "It is a problematic law. Just changing the name is not enough; its sections need to align with the intended name. The way the Cyber Security Act is in place will disrupt people's security. There is still room for discussion; it can be corrected in consultation with stakeholders.”
He further said: "The draft shows that everything is the same except for a few changes. In the name of the law, the word cyber has replaced digital."
